doda Unveils Trends in Salary Increases for Career Changes in 2026
The career transition service doda, operated by Persol Career, has recently released its 2026 report on trends related to salary increases after job changes. Conducted between October 2025 and March 2026, the study analyzed data from individuals who utilized doda's agent services during their career transitions, focusing specifically on those who experienced salary increases. Overall, the report revealed that 64.1% of participants saw their salaries rise, with an average increase of 1,094,383 yen.
The report’s findings are categorized by age group, industry, job type, and transition patterns. The analysis highlighted several interesting trends:
Among those who reported a salary increase, 67.9% fell within the 25 to 29 age bracket, indicating that younger job seekers are successfully leveraging their careers for financial growth. The highest average salary increase was noted in the 35-39 age group, landing at 1,312,602 yen. Notably, the trend also showed a decline in the percentage of participants achieving salary increases as age progressed, yet it's worth mentioning that over half of individuals in their early 40s also managed to increase their earnings through career moves.
Examining the data by gender, males had a slightly lower salary increase rate at 63.4% compared to females at 65.4%. The average salary increments also varied by age, where men peaked at 1,367,883 yen in the 35-39 age bracket, while women saw their maximum increase of 1,198,560 yen at ages 45 and above.
When dissecting the data by industry, the 'Internet/Advertising/Media' sector reported the highest percentage of salary increases at 72.1%. Following closely was the 'IT/Telecommunications' sector with 72.0%. In terms of average salary increases, the 'Finance' sector took the lead with an impressive average of 1,324,805 yen.
Focusing on job roles, 'Technical Jobs' (including Software Engineers, Infrastructure Engineers, and Web Engineers) emerged with the highest success rate in terms of salary increases at 74.8%, alongside the most substantial average increment of 1,323,998 yen. Other notable roles that maintained strong salary increase performance included creative positions and administrative roles.
A significant finding in the report is that over 60% of individuals transitioning to different industries or job types still managed to achieve salary increases, underscoring the idea that adaptability and skills can lead to success in unfamiliar fields.
Takafumi Sakurai, the editor for doda, expressed that the investigation reveals a pressing need for companies to incentivize talent with higher salaries due to the ongoing labor shortages and the general trend towards wage increases across various sectors. In particular, the demand for IT and engineering professionals reflects the greater market conditions favoring job seekers, resulting in more lucrative offers.
He emphasized the necessity for individuals to introspect and define their career motivations, suggesting that a clear understanding of one’s desired work environment, work-life balance, and potential for growth is essential in ensuring satisfaction with future job placements.
As we digest these valuable insights, it becomes evident that structuring one’s job search around personal career goals—and exhibiting this during interviews—can foster not only satisfactory employment prospects but also greater job fulfillment over the long term.
The doda report offers a compelling look at how various factors contribute to career growth and financial advancement in the evolving world of work. By being aware of these trends, job seekers can better navigate their transitions and optimize opportunities for successful outcomes.
For more detailed findings, readers can access the full report here.
Key Findings
The report’s findings are categorized by age group, industry, job type, and transition patterns. The analysis highlighted several interesting trends:
Age Group Analysis
Among those who reported a salary increase, 67.9% fell within the 25 to 29 age bracket, indicating that younger job seekers are successfully leveraging their careers for financial growth. The highest average salary increase was noted in the 35-39 age group, landing at 1,312,602 yen. Notably, the trend also showed a decline in the percentage of participants achieving salary increases as age progressed, yet it's worth mentioning that over half of individuals in their early 40s also managed to increase their earnings through career moves.
Gender Comparison
Examining the data by gender, males had a slightly lower salary increase rate at 63.4% compared to females at 65.4%. The average salary increments also varied by age, where men peaked at 1,367,883 yen in the 35-39 age bracket, while women saw their maximum increase of 1,198,560 yen at ages 45 and above.
Industry Insights
When dissecting the data by industry, the 'Internet/Advertising/Media' sector reported the highest percentage of salary increases at 72.1%. Following closely was the 'IT/Telecommunications' sector with 72.0%. In terms of average salary increases, the 'Finance' sector took the lead with an impressive average of 1,324,805 yen.
Job Type Performance
Focusing on job roles, 'Technical Jobs' (including Software Engineers, Infrastructure Engineers, and Web Engineers) emerged with the highest success rate in terms of salary increases at 74.8%, alongside the most substantial average increment of 1,323,998 yen. Other notable roles that maintained strong salary increase performance included creative positions and administrative roles.
Transition Patterns
A significant finding in the report is that over 60% of individuals transitioning to different industries or job types still managed to achieve salary increases, underscoring the idea that adaptability and skills can lead to success in unfamiliar fields.
Commentary from doda Editor-in-Chief
Takafumi Sakurai, the editor for doda, expressed that the investigation reveals a pressing need for companies to incentivize talent with higher salaries due to the ongoing labor shortages and the general trend towards wage increases across various sectors. In particular, the demand for IT and engineering professionals reflects the greater market conditions favoring job seekers, resulting in more lucrative offers.
He emphasized the necessity for individuals to introspect and define their career motivations, suggesting that a clear understanding of one’s desired work environment, work-life balance, and potential for growth is essential in ensuring satisfaction with future job placements.
As we digest these valuable insights, it becomes evident that structuring one’s job search around personal career goals—and exhibiting this during interviews—can foster not only satisfactory employment prospects but also greater job fulfillment over the long term.
Conclusion
The doda report offers a compelling look at how various factors contribute to career growth and financial advancement in the evolving world of work. By being aware of these trends, job seekers can better navigate their transitions and optimize opportunities for successful outcomes.
For more detailed findings, readers can access the full report here.
Topics Business Technology）
【About Using Articles】
You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.
【About Links】
Links are free to use.