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How to become a Working Environment Measurement Expert

Measures concentrations of harmful substances (chemicals, dust and so on) in indoor and other workplaces where hazardous work is done, and uses the results to assess the working environment and suggest improvements that prevent harm to workers' health.

How to become one

To carry out working environment measurement, you must pass the first-class or second-class working environment measurement expert exam, complete a course run by a training body registered with the director of the prefectural labour bureau, and then register as a working environment measurement expert with the Japan Safety and Health Examination Association. Experts work either for companies that handle chemicals and similar or for working environment measurement agencies (companies that specialise in measurement), but most working experts belong to measurement agencies. Hardly any new graduates are already qualified when they join a measurement agency; it is usual to go along on real measurements after joining and prepare for the qualification under the guidance of senior colleagues. Most new graduates are science university or postgraduate graduates, but some join from high school. There are also a fair number of mid-career hires, who become experts from many different backgrounds. The national exam has first-class and second-class qualifications, which, as mentioned, differ in the range of measurement work you can do on site. In most cases people gain the second-class qualification and aim for the first-class qualification while building practical experience. Some also gain related qualifications such as environmental measurer and occupational health consultant. Generally, after 5 to 10 years of on-site measurement work, while also learning how to build relationships and communicate with the sites you visit, people become leaders or managers at a measurement agency. People who work for manufacturers or similar often become measurement experts at a factory and go on to work as managers in the company. The abilities needed include, in design (planning measurements), explaining plans clearly; in assessment, making sound assessments from analysis results, reporting them clearly and suggesting improvements; and in sampling, communication skills, such as dealing with site managers, not just measuring the working environment on site. The substances handled vary greatly with the character of local industry where factories are located, so you need to build specialist knowledge and skills for each substance.

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How do I become a Working Environment Measurement Expert?

To carry out working environment measurement, you must pass the first-class or second-class working environment measurement expert exam, complete a course run by a training body registered with the director of the prefectural labour bureau, and then register as a working environment measurement expert with the Japan Safety and Health Examination Association. Experts work either for companies that handle chemicals and similar or for working environment measurement agencies (companies that specialise in measurement), but most working experts belong to measurement agencies. Hardly any new graduates are already qualified when they join a measurement agency; it is usual to go along on real measurements after joining and prepare for the qualification under the guidance of senior colleagues. Most new graduates are science university or postgraduate graduates, but some join from high school. There are also a fair number of mid-career hires, who become experts from many different backgrounds. The national exam has first-class and second-class qualifications, which, as mentioned, differ in the range of measurement work you can do on site. In most cases people gain the second-class qualification and aim for the first-class qualification while building practical experience. Some also gain related qualifications such as environmental measurer and occupational health consultant. Generally, after 5 to 10 years of on-site measurement work, while also learning how to build relationships and communicate with the sites you visit, people become leaders or managers at a measurement agency. People who work for manufacturers or similar often become measurement experts at a factory and go on to work as managers in the company. The abilities needed include, in design (planning measurements), explaining plans clearly; in assessment, making sound assessments from analysis results, reporting them clearly and suggesting improvements; and in sampling, communication skills, such as dealing with site managers, not just measuring the working environment on site. The substances handled vary greatly with the character of local industry where factories are located, so you need to build specialist knowledge and skills for each substance.

How much does a Working Environment Measurement Expert earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥6,119,400 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Engineers not elsewhere classified, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Working Environment Measurement Expert?

Usually. In this job's census occupation group, 62% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Working Environment Measurement Expert?

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