A thermoelectric converter comprises a thermoelectric element assembly that includes a plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements which are arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern; and a heat-exchange element assembly provided with a plurality of heat exchange elements and a retaining plate retaining the plurality of the heat exchange elements, the plurality of the heat exchange elements being retained in a predetermined arrangement condition corresponding to a arrangement condition of the thermoelectric elements. Then, a plurality of joining sites between the thermoelectric element assembly and the heat-exchange element assembly are all together joined by joining members in a state in which the thermoelectric element assembly and the heat-exchange element assembly are stacked on each other.