Sega Announces Pay Hike for Japan Staff from April 2026

• Sega will raise the salary after three years for full-time Japanese employees.
• New graduate salaries will increase from ¥300,000 to ¥330,000.
• The move follows similar wage hikes by Capcom and Konami, amid economic changes.

Sega, the company behind Sonic Rumble, plans to raise the base pay of its full-time Japanese employees by an average of about 10%. In a statement announced on Nov 12, 2025, Sega said that the new pay scale would be in effect from April 1, 2026. The company has also informed that the entry-level salaries for fresh graduates will rise from ¥300,000 to ¥330,000 per month (≈ $2,140 USD), which also shows this 10% jump.

The company is revamping its compensation structure to better fit every role. The pay increase will also allow employees to receive a portion of their bonuses in addition to their base pay. Additionally, Sega is launching initiatives to promote work-life balance, such as the Job + System for side jobs that stimulate innovation and the Fami + System for childcare and elder care.

Why is Sega Revising its Pay Structure?

As per the company, such initiatives would enable it to combat economic changes such as inflation. Not only that, but Sega also said that the shift would strengthen their recruitment ability and develop human resources in the face of global competition.

The rise comes after Sega raised the base salary for new graduates from ¥222,000 to ¥300,000 back in 2023. This decision is also consistent with the general trend of salary growth in Japan. Reuters reported that the nation witnessed an average wage rise of 5.25% in early 2025, the most in 34 years, according to labor union figures.

Sega Pay Raise Follows Similar Moves by Capcom, Konami

Prior to the current raise given by Sega, Konami and Capcom also increased their initial salary of recent graduates and base pay to ¥300,000 per month. Konami, additionally also increased full-time employees' base pay by ¥5,000 every month, accumulating ¥60,000 annually.

In the face of growing expenses, Sega's 10% pay increase improves real income by turning bonuses into stable base pay. The change, which will take effect next year, is intended to draw in talent and bolster its "Empower the Gamers" initiative. Although it mostly helps full-time employees, it indicates that Sega aims to foster stability and innovation in Japan's cutthroat video game market.