Jobstreet Salary Report 2022: What Are the Best Paying Jobs In Malaysia?

Choosing a career path can be very daunting for any jobseeker. Many career choices are available these days, especially since Malaysia remains one of the top Southeast Asian countries with the fastest-growing economy. If you are evaluating a career switch, consider pursuing these best-paying jobs in Malaysia.

Salary changes in Malaysia

It’s no surprise that salary and compensation skyrocketed as one of the key drivers for jobseekers to change jobs. The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing inflation changed the salary expectation of most jobseekers in Malaysia. Many are looking into increasing their earning potential to thrive and provide value to their work.

According to the recent JobStreet Salary Report, among the 31 job industries in Malaysia, 40% have increased their salary offering to attract jobseekers and compete for in-demand skills. Among the top sectors that experienced growth is the Computer/IT industry due to more businesses relying on digital operations. This shift in the market gave jobseekers the confidence to explore opportunities for career advancement.

Another shift that contributed to the expectations of jobseekers is the Malaysian Minimum Wages Order 2022, which took effect in May 2022. This Order increases the minimum monthly wage of employees to RM 1,500 in the private sector with five or more employees. Providing a good outlook on fresh graduates and working professionals on keeping up with the rising cost of living.

Importance of Knowing Salary Trends

As your job roles, responsibilities, skill sets, and work experiences evolve, so will your salary grade. But more than these, economic conditions and work locations also affect wages. So, be mindful of these to better align your salary expectations with reality.

Knowing salary trends are important for jobseekers to sell their skill sets to potential employers. The best salespeople know the value of their products; they can confidently offer them without being obnoxious. To sell yourself to employers, you need to research thoroughly during the period of job hunting.

Salary trends will help you determine the best-paying jobs in your chosen industry. They will allow you to better prepare and defend your asking price. Using them will also give you some leverage if you’re seeking an increase. Ultimately, the more information you have about your salary, the more comfortable you’ll feel giving out a number.

It's always best to manage your salary expectations to help you succeed in your chosen career. To further help you gauge the competitiveness of your salary offer, JobStreet recently released an Explore Salaries tool that allows you to compare your salary to industry averages.

Top Best-Paying Jobs in Malaysia

We recapped the salary trends in Malaysia through our Salary Report, which provides an “in-depth understanding of the job market with detailed salary trends according to location and company size.” Here is the list of best-paying jobs in Malaysia, across all position levels based on the average salaries posted on JobStreet between January 2020 - March 2021.

Best-Paying Jobs in Malaysia for Entry-Level Positions

Average pay: RM 2,500

Is your course among the top highest earning potential in Malaysia?

Did you know: Computer & IT and Digital Marketing graduates are among the in-demand talents in Malaysia.

1. Computer Science & IT: RM 3,360
2. Building & Construction (Architecture and Quantity Survey): RM 3,000
3. Engineering: RM 2,890
4. Accounting & Finance: RM 2,800
5. Arts, Media & Communication: RM 2,600
6. Sales & Marketing: RM 2,500
7. Sciences (Pharmacy and Actuarial Sciences): RM 2,500
8. Services (Culinary Arts): RM 2,500
9. Education & Training: RM 2,400
10. Manufacturing and Production: RM 2,250

In Malaysia, fresh graduates can earn between RM 1,500 and RM 3,600, with the average being RM2,500 across most industries. Take note that these are just basic salaries and do not include other compensation forms such as leave credits, medical benefits, insurance, and incentives.

Jobseekers with Computer & IT degrees have continued to relish tremendous growth since the pandemic started. It is one of the fastest-growing sectors and one of the most in-demand talents in the Malaysian job market. Entry-level engineers and architects are also well-paid as Malaysia continues to expand and modernise infrastructures within central business districts and rural areas. 

Best-Paying Jobs in Malaysia for Junior Executive Positions

Average pay: RM 3,400

Does your chosen career match your salary expectations?

Did you know: Engineering jobs have the highest median salary growth among all specialisations in Malaysia.

1. Software Specialists: RM 4,500
2. Logistics Executive: RM 3,600
3. Sales & Marketing Executive: RM 3,500
4. Lecturer/Professor: RM 3,400
5. Accountants: RM 3,300
6. Civil Engineer: RM 3,250
7. Customer Service Officer: RM 3,250
8. Business Analyst: RM 3,250
9. Digital Marketers: RM 3,150
10. Lab Technicians: RM 3,050

On average, junior executives can earn a salary range from RM 3,000 to RM 4,500, with the average being RM 3,400 across all industries.

Most specialisations in Malaysia’s junior executive level list of best-paying jobs are in the technical field. Programming, Data Analysis, and Engineering are among the common hard skills on the list. 

It’s important to monitor how your chosen field evolves and which new skills will help you increase your chances of success. Better to stay ahead of the curve and upskill or reskill. The more skills you accumulate, the more potential employers will see and consider making an offer to acquire your talent. 

Best-Paying Jobs in Malaysia for Senior Executive Positions

Average pay: 5,100

Does your chosen career match your salary expectations?

Did you know: If you earn between RM 6,590 and RM 17,600 per month, you'd likely be able to live quite comfortably in Malaysia.

1. Data Scientist: RM 7,300
2. Electrical Engineer: RM 6,100
3. Mechanical Engineer: RM 6,000
4. Auditor: RM 5,000
5. Production Operator: RM 4,800
6. Construction Manager: RM 4,800
7. Doctors/Surgeons: RM 4,800
8. Production Operator: RM 4,800
9. Training and development manager: RM 4,800
10.  Art Director: RM 4,250

For senior executives, the engineering sector pays well for employees. Out of the top 10, engineers take up four slots in the best-paying jobs. 

Senior executives can earn a salary range from RM3,200 to RM7,500, with the average being RM4,300 across all industries.

Best-Paying Jobs in Malaysia for Managerial Positions

Average pay: RM 7,900

It pays well to manage and nurture top talent.

Did you know: Malaysia's manufacturing sector posted the largest share of job vacancies in 2022.

1. Manufacturing (Program Manager): RM 9,981
2. Services (Supply Chain Manager): RM 9,937
3. Computer/IT (Product Manager): RM 9,689
4. Healthcare (Medical Officer): RM 9,486
5. Manufacturing (Project Manager): RM 9,112
6. Building & Construction (Construction Manager): RM 9,090
7. Manufacturing (Factory Manager): RM 9,001
8. Accounting & Finance (Branch Manager): RM 8,537
9. Arts/Media/Communications (PR Manager): RM 8,513
10. Sales & Marketing (Product Manager): RM 8,344

Companies are investing in managerial positions to help run and oversee technologies that can be used to drive higher outputs and greater efficiencies. 

Managers can earn a salary range from RM 6,500 to RM 9,750, with the average being RM 7,900 across all industries. Malaysia’s manufacturing sector has been experiencing rapid growth in the last few years, and managerial roles in this sector top the list.

Best-Paying Jobs in Malaysia for Senior Managerial Positions

Average pay: RM 11,500

What are the top industries with the most significant salary growth since the pandemic?

Did you know: The telecommunication industry is one of the biggest industries in terms of employment in Malaysia.

1. Computer/IT (Software Architect): RM 15,000
2. Manufacturing (Engineering Manager): RM 14,000
3. Services (Lawyer/Legal Counsel): RM 14,000
4. Accounting & Finance (Financial Controller): RM 13,500
5. Building & Construction (Senior Project Manager/Construction Manager): RM 12,500
6. Engineering (Operation Manager/Industrial Manager): RM 12,500
7. Sales & Marketing (Product Manager): RM 12,000
8. Sciences (Actuarial Manager): RM 12,000 
9. Education & Training (Training Manager): RM 11,250
10. Arts, Media, & Communications (Ad Operations Manager): RM 11,000

It takes years of experience and expertise before one becomes a senior manager, but all that hard work pays off. Overall, senior managers in specialisations such as Telecommunications, Engineering, and Insurance are the top highest-paying jobs in this position.

On average, senior managers can earn a salary range from RM 12,500 to RM 16,500, with the average being RM 11,500 across all industries.

Want to learn more about your earning potential? Download the latest JobStreet Salary Report now and take control of your future. It will help you identify the sectors that offer competitive salary packages at any point in your career. Find out the potential growth of each industry and align your goals with each trend. 

#SEEKBetter opportunities with JobStreet Career Tools and navigate your career to success. Don't forget to create or update your JobStreet profile to notify potential employers of your availability to work. Visit the Career Resources Hub for more expert tips and career advice.