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Average Salary in Malaysia 2024

How much money does a person working in Malaysia make?


Average Monthly Salary
6,610 MYR
( 79,300 MYR yearly)

LOW
1,670
MYR
AVERAGE
6,610
MYR
HIGH
29,400
MYR
All salary figures displayed here are per month except when noted otherwise.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

A person working in Malaysia typically earns around 6,610 MYR. Salaries range from 1,670 MYR (lowest average) to 29,400 MYR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).


Salary Variance

This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries in Malaysia vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.



Pay Scale and Salaries in Malaysia

Median and salary distribution Malaysia monthly
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Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

5% of people earn
12,600 MYR or more
10% of people earn
9,890 to 12,600 MYR
20% of people earn
3,850 MYR or less
65% of people earn
3,850 to 9,890 MYR
Minimum Salary
1,670 MYR
Median
5,810 MYR
Maximum
29,400 MYR




Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range

All salary figures displayed here are per month except when noted otherwise.
  • Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary

    Salaries in Malaysia range from 1,670 MYR (starting salary) to 29,400 MYR (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). This is not the minimum wage as per the law, only the lowest reported number in the salary survey that had thousands of participants and professionals from all over the country.

  • Median Salary

    The median salary is 5,810 MYR, which means that 50% of the population in Malaysia earns less than that while the other half earns more. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.

  • Percentiles and Salary Scale

    Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of the population in Malaysia earn less than 4,200 MYR while 75% of them earn more. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population earn less than 8,800 MYR while 25% earn more than that.

  • Pay Scale Structure

    We grouped the most common and recurring salaries into brackets to give more insight into what salary to expect. This method is more accurate than just the average salary and gives more insights into how salaries are actually distributed in Malaysia. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 3,850 MYR to 9,890 MYR. Approximately 20% fall under the 3,850 MYR cap. Ten percent of wages are from 9,890 MYR to 12,600 MYR. Only 5% of people grossed 12,600 MYR or more.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

Salary Comparison By Experience Level
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Salary is primarily determined by the level of experience one possesses, with higher levels of experience resulting in higher wages.

In Malaysia, employees with two to five years of experience typically earn an average of 32% more than entry-level and junior workers in all industries and fields.

Individuals with more than five years of experience tend to earn an average of 36% more than those with less than five years of experience.

After ten years of work, salaries increase by 21%, with an additional 14% increase for those who have worked for over 15 years.

These figures should be used as rough estimates, as considering individual job titles can lead to more accurate assessments.


Change in salary based on experience varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of many different jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark.
* Based on the average change in salary over time. Salary variations differ from person to person.

Salary Comparison By Education

How does the education level affect your salary?

Salary Comparison By Education
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Change in salary based on education varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of multiple jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.

The correlation between higher education and higher salary is widely acknowledged, but how much of an income increase can one expect from obtaining a degree?

We conducted a study in Malaysia comparing the salaries of professionals with different levels of college degrees who held similar positions in various industries.

Our results showed that individuals with a certificate or diploma earned an average of 17% more than those who only completed high school.

Those who obtained a Bachelor's Degree earned 24% more than their counterparts with a certificate or diploma.

Professionals with a Master's Degree earned 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.

Finally, those who held a PhD earned an average of 23% more than those with a Master's Degree while performing the same job.


Is investing in a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Is pursuing higher education worth the investment?

Earning a Master's degree or any post-graduate qualification in Malaysia is a substantial financial commitment, with tuition fees ranging from 33,100 MYR to 99,200 MYR and a duration of around two years. It's important to note that during this period, any salary increases are unlikely, assuming ongoing employment. Salary reviews are typically conducted after completing the program and obtaining the degree.

Many individuals pursue advanced education as a means of transitioning to higher-paying positions, and the statistics indicate that this is an effective strategy. On average, individuals who change jobs after earning a higher degree receive a salary increase of about 10% more than the typical annual raise.

Ultimately, deciding whether or not to pursue advanced education depends on a variety of factors, including the personal situation and experience. However, if one can afford the financial costs of obtaining a higher degree, the return on investment is likely to be worthwhile, with the ability to recoup the costs in approximately a year.



Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Malaysia

Salary comparison by gender Malaysia monthly
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In Malaysia, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 11% across all career fields.

Male
6,970 MYR
Female-10%
6,280 MYR
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value


Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Malaysia

How much are annual salary increments in Malaysia? How often do employees get salary raises?

Malaysia

Employees in Malaysia are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 17 months.

Annual Salary Increment Rate Malaysia
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The figures provided here are averages of numbers. Those figures should be taken as general guidelines. Salary increments will vary from person to person and depend on many factors, but your performance and contribution to the success of the organization remain the most important factors in determining how much and how often you will be granted a raise.

The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.

How to calculate the salary increment percentage?

The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency

The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in Malaysia is 6%.

Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs

World Average Annual Salary Increment
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Salary Packages and Schemes

Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.



Bonus and Incentive Rates in Malaysia

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Annual Salary Bonus Rate Malaysia
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49% of surveyed staff in Malaysia reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 51% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.

Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.

Received Bonus
51%
No Bonus
49%

Types of Bonuses Considered

Individual Performance-Based Bonuses

The most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.

Company Performance Bonuses

Occasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.

Goal-Based Bonuses

Granted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.

Holiday / End of Year Bonuses

These types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.

Bonuses Are Not Commissions!

People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.


Bonus Rates Comparison by Career Field

Finance
High
Architecture
High
Sales
High
Business Development
High
Marketing / Advertising
High
Information Technology
Moderate
Healthcare
Moderate
Insurance
Moderate
Customer Service
Moderate
Human Resources
Moderate
Construction
Low
Transport
Low
Hospitality
Low

What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?

The main two types of jobs

Revenue GeneratorsSupporting Cast

Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business.

Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations.

Example:
A graphics designer working for a graphics designing company.

Example:
A graphic designer in the marketing department of a hospital.


Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.

Try to work for companies where your skills can generate revenue. We can't all generate revenue and that's perfectly fine.

Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level

Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.

Salaries for popular jobs. Salaries by occupations.

Job TitleAverage Salary
Accounting and Finance
Accountant4,550 MYR
Accounting Assistant3,670 MYR
Accounting Manager9,800 MYR
Bookkeeper3,070 MYR
Chartered Accountant5,820 MYR
Corporate Treasurer9,180 MYR
Financial Analyst8,840 MYR
Financial Manager12,700 MYR
Internal Auditor6,490 MYR

Administration / Reception / Secretarial
Administrative Assistant3,640 MYR
Office Manager5,970 MYR
Receptionist3,260 MYR
Secretary2,850 MYR

Advertising / Graphic Design / Events
Art Director6,670 MYR
Creative Director6,730 MYR
Graphic Designer4,070 MYR
Photographer3,810 MYR

Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense
Aerospace Engineer8,590 MYR
Air Traffic Controller7,590 MYR
Flight Attendant4,600 MYR
Pilot10,900 MYR

Architecture
Architect8,240 MYR
CAD Drafter3,230 MYR

Automotive
Mechanic2,550 MYR
Service Advisor4,510 MYR

Banking
Bank Branch Manager11,500 MYR
Teller2,580 MYR

Bilingual
Teacher5,290 MYR
Translator5,820 MYR

Business Planning
Business Analyst8,130 MYR
Business Development Manager10,700 MYR
Project Manager8,080 MYR

Care Giving and Child Care
Nanny2,660 MYR
Nursery Teacher2,530 MYR

Construction / Building / Installation
Civil Engineer5,950 MYR
Construction Project Manager11,200 MYR
Health and Safety Officer2,850 MYR

Customer Service and Call Center
Call Center Representative2,530 MYR
Customer Service Manager8,820 MYR
Customer Service Representative2,530 MYR

Engineering
Civil Engineer6,280 MYR
Electrical Engineer6,630 MYR
Engineer6,130 MYR
Mechanical Engineer6,490 MYR

Executive and Management
Chief Executive Officer15,300 MYR
Chief Financial Officer14,200 MYR
General Manager11,400 MYR
Project Manager7,730 MYR

Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering
Chef3,940 MYR
Executive Chef4,850 MYR
Hotel Manager12,000 MYR
Receptionist2,600 MYR
Travel Agent4,330 MYR
Waiter / Waitress2,020 MYR

Health and Medical
Dentist15,400 MYR
Dietitian12,900 MYR
Laboratory Technician5,150 MYR
Nurse5,200 MYR

Human Resources
Human Resources Manager9,800 MYR
Human Resources Officer4,000 MYR

Information Technology
Computer Technician5,190 MYR
Database Administrator6,850 MYR
Developer / Programmer6,760 MYR
Information Technology Manager10,900 MYR
Network Engineer5,750 MYR

Law Enforcement / Security / Fire
Police Officer3,880 MYR

Legal
Attorney13,500 MYR
Legal Assistant3,400 MYR

Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment
Journalist7,650 MYR

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
Biomedical Engineer5,720 MYR
Pharmacist8,840 MYR

Sales Retail and Wholesale
Cashier2,550 MYR
Sales Manager11,200 MYR
Sales Representative4,330 MYR

Teaching / Education
Elementary School Teacher4,630 MYR
Secondary School Teacher5,630 MYR

Average Hourly Wage in Malaysia


38 MYR per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) for all employees in Malaysia is 38 MYR.This is the rate that the average individual gets paid for every worked hour.


Hourly Wage = Annual Salary / ( 52 x 5 x 8 )

About The Hourly Pay Rate

The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.

What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?

The minimum pay rate per hour for a person in Malaysia is 10 MYR. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.

Salary Comparison By City

CityAverage Salary
Ampang6,010 MYR
Ipoh7,070 MYR
Johor Bahru6,660 MYR
Klang6,130 MYR
Kota Kinabalu6,560 MYR
Kuala Lumpur7,160 MYR
Kuching6,420 MYR
Petaling Jaya6,960 MYR
Shah Alam6,820 MYR
Subang Jaya6,260 MYR

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Malaysia is 9% on average across all career fields.

Private Sector
6,340 MYR
Public Sector+9%
6,900 MYR
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide

What is considered to be a good and competitive salary in Malaysia?

It is extremely difficult to give an exact figure of a good salary when no specific job is selected, however; an estimate can be provided based purely on the cost of living. A good compensation in Malaysia would range anywhere between 5,810 MYR and 8,800 MYR.

Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)

All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

Base / Basic Salary

The base salary in Malaysia ranges from 1,670 MYR to 4,200 MYR. The base salary depends on many factors including profession, experience, and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.


What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary


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