Survey Reveals New Employees' Perspectives on Salary Awareness and Training

April 25 marks the “First Pay Day,” a day that many new employees eagerly anticipate. Recently, Yuichi Sugawara, a tax accountant and host of the popular YouTube channel, “Datsu Zeirishi Sugawara-kun,” conducted a survey on salary awareness to understand the perspectives of new employees entering the workforce in this new fiscal year and those who have been in their jobs for five or more years. A total of 282 respondents, comprising 132 new employees and 150 senior employees, participated in the online survey conducted by Freeasy.

Survey Overview

New Employees

- Survey Period: April 17-22, 2025
- Method: Online survey
- Target Group: Males and females aged 18 to less than 24 who are new employees for the fiscal year 2025
- Region: Nationwide
- Valid Responses: 132

Senior Employees

- Survey Period: April 22, 2025
- Method: Online survey
- Target Group: Males and females aged 22 to less than 30 with five or more years of experience
- Region: Nationwide
- Valid Responses: 150

Please credit any usage of this survey’s results to “Datsu Zeirishi Sugawara-kun.”

Summary of Findings

- About 70% of new employees reported receiving salary training.
- Approximately 90% of senior employees claim to understand their salary statements, yet over 10% admitted they do not.
- The most recognized knowledge about salaries among employees is the difference between basic salary, take-home pay, and gross pay.
- Over 40% of senior employees expressed shock at the low amount of take-home pay.

Detailed Results

When new employees were asked if they had received training regarding salaries or salary statements, an impressive 69.7% answered affirmatively. This indicates that many companies are providing salary-related training upon hiring.

Conversely, when senior employees were questioned about their comprehension of salary statements, 53.3% confirmed understanding, while a further 35.3% claimed to have a general understanding, resulting in approximately 90% showing some level of comprehension. Nevertheless, 11.3% admitted they did not understand their salary statements.

Furthermore, when asked about their knowledge of salary-related terms, “the differences between basic pay, take-home pay, and gross pay” was the most common response, with 43.2% of new employees and 68.7% of senior employees acknowledging it. Other significant knowledge included that bonuses are subject to social insurance premiums and income tax (36.4% for new employees and 52.7% for senior employees) and the taxation of various allowances (29.6% for new employees and 34% for senior employees). However, 4.6% of new employees and 13.3% of senior employees reported having no knowledge of salary matters at all.

Finally, when senior employees were asked if they had ever been surprised by their salary statements, the top response was that their take-home pay was lower than expected (43.3%). This was followed by respondents indicating they were surprised by the amount deducted for taxes and social insurance (34.0%), and others who stated they were not surprised at all (32.7%). Additional comments included unforeseen deductions and unexpected decreases in take-home pay following changes in employment status or job levels.

Expert Insight from Tax Accountant Yuichi Sugawara

Yuichi Sugawara emphasizes the importance of understanding salaries and deductions. Given that many companies set their paydays for around the 25th of each month, many new hires anticipate receiving their first paycheck on April 25. Therefore, understanding how salary, basic pay, gross pay, and deductions work is vital.

Understanding Salary Components

1. Basic Pay: This is the fixed monthly salary paid by the employer, excluding bonuses and incentives.
2. Gross Pay: This is the total amount before any deductions, which includes the basic pay and any additional allowances or bonuses.
3. Take-Home Pay: This is the net amount deposited into the employee's account after deducting taxes and social security contributions from the gross pay.

Key Considerations for Salary Understanding

- Review Pay Statements: Employees should verify the accuracy of tax and deduction calculations, ensure the correct net amount is deposited, and check the specified payment dates.
- Social Insurance Premiums: These premiums are based on five main areas: health insurance, pension insurance, unemployment insurance, and others, calculated according to each employee's salary level. The standard remuneration is calculated based on monthly wages that include various allowances and benefits.

Understanding these components not only helps reduce confusion but also ensures that employees can effectively manage their finances.

Navigating Changes in the Salary Framework

Maintaining awareness of salary patterns is critical, especially during the spring months, which often lead to increased working hours and subsequent deductions in take-home pay. New employees must be aware that the amount earned in the early months of joining can impact their future salary deductions.

With the growing scrutiny of financial matters and the importance of financial literacy, companies and new employees alike must prioritize salary education. Understanding the mechanisms behind salaries and deductions is key to maintaining financial wellness in today’s challenging economic landscape.

About Yuichi Sugawara

Born in Mie Prefecture in 1975 and currently residing in Tokyo, Yuichi Sugawara is a seasoned tax accountant known for helping 85% of his clients maximize profits through tax savings and capital management. His YouTube channel has garnered 90,000 subscribers in just two years, and the impact of his insights is widely recognized in the field of finance.

Company Overview

Name: Sugawara-kun Corporation
Location: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Representative: Yoshiki Horie
Founded: November 8, 2023
Capital: 1,000,000 yen
Services: Seminar operations, YouTube production, advertising, and consulting
Website: Sugawara-kun