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Other construction and civil engineering workers

How to become a Waterproofing Worker

Also called: Building waterproofer, Sealant applicator, Civil works waterproofer

Builds the waterproof layer in waterproofing work on roofs and other parts of buildings, as one of the building finishing trades.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school or less than high school 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 qualifications are needed to start. Most people learn the necessary skills while working on site. The years it takes depend on the type of waterproof layer and method, but you can do basic work in two to three years at the earliest and about five at the latest. After gaining a set amount of work experience, gaining the waterproofing exam in the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare serves as proof of skill. By improving your skills and gaining more experience after starting, you can also set up on your own. Waterproofing uses urethane solvents and other products containing substances harmful to people, such as toluene and xylene, so qualifications such as hazardous materials engineer and organic solvent work chief are an advantage.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Waterproofing Worker?

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start. Most people learn the necessary skills while working on site. The years it takes depend on the type of waterproof layer and method, but you can do basic work in two to three years at the earliest and about five at the latest. After gaining a set amount of work experience, gaining the waterproofing exam in the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare serves as proof of skill. By improving your skills and gaining more experience after starting, you can also set up on your own. Waterproofing uses urethane solvents and other products containing substances harmful to people, such as toluene and xylene, so qualifications such as hazardous materials engineer and organic solvent work chief are an advantage.

How much does a Waterproofing Worker earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,668,700 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Other construction workers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Waterproofing Worker?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 20% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: National trade skills test (技能検定).

Will AI change the work of a Waterproofing Worker?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, 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