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Other general clerical workers

How to become a School Administrative Officer

Does the office work schools need so that teaching and related activities run smoothly.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start. At public schools, local government employees are assigned to the role. Private schools run their own recruitment exams and do a lot of mid-career hiring. Staff handle the phone, the counter, documents and salary payments, and with experience may also take part in running the school, for example joining school meetings and representing the school at outside events. Documents are prepared on computers, so being skilled with them helps the work go smoothly. You deal with other staff a lot, so it is important to keep up good communication every day so that staff cooperate and the school runs smoothly. Because you also deal with children, students and parents, you need to be careful in what you say and do and respond appropriately.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a School Administrative Officer?

No particular education or qualification is required to start. At public schools, local government employees are assigned to the role. Private schools run their own recruitment exams and do a lot of mid-career hiring. Staff handle the phone, the counter, documents and salary payments, and with experience may also take part in running the school, for example joining school meetings and representing the school at outside events. Documents are prepared on computers, so being skilled with them helps the work go smoothly. You deal with other staff a lot, so it is important to keep up good communication every day so that staff cooperate and the school runs smoothly. Because you also deal with children, students and parents, you need to be careful in what you say and do and respond appropriately.

How much does a School Administrative Officer earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥5,286,700 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Other general clerical workers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a School Administrative Officer?

Not always. In this job's census occupation group, 55% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a School Administrative Officer?

Generative AI could change many tasks in this job, which usually reshapes the work more than it replaces it, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026