Cross-country comparison
RS-5 (Japan) vs GS-12 (United States)
Japan · 俸給表 (18 salary schedules)
RS-5
研究職 5級 — Research. Researchers at national research institutes.
￥5,521,200 – ￥6,673,200
FY 2026 · annual base · JPY
View full RS-5 detail →United States · General Schedule (GS)
GS-12
GS-12 — senior specialist or first-line supervisor in most occupations.
$76,463 – $99,404
FY 2026 · annual base · USD
View full GS-12 detail →How they compare
A RS-5 in the Japan federal civil service earns between ￥5,521,200 and ￥6,673,200 per year at base rates, while a GS-12 in the United States federal civil service earns between $76,463 and $99,404. Both figures are annual base in each country’s currency, before locality adjustments, allowances, or bonuses.
Responsibilities at these grades are not directly comparable — each country’s civil service uses its own classification framework. See the linked authoritative sources for role scoping.