Throughout their careers, workers often compare their salaries with those of others to gauge whether they are receiving fair remuneration and making progress.
One useful benchmark for employees is the median salary of workers in Malaysia. In this article, we will examine the median salaries of workers in Malaysia, based on age, gender, race and the state they are living in.
How Much Are People Earning In Malaysia?
According to data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the median monthly salary in Malaysia was RM2,900 in December 2023, representing a 4.9% increase from RM2,764 in December 2022.
This rise may be attributed to the increase in the national minimum wage from RM1,200 to RM1,500, effective May 2022. Additionally, the overall minimum wage for civil service workers is now more than RM2,000.
How Much Should You Be Earning At Every Age Category?
In the early stages of their careers, individuals typically receive lower starting salaries as they are still building their skills. As workers gain more experience, they naturally progress in their careers and are rewarded with higher salaries. Data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) confirms this trend.
| Age Group | Median Monthly Salary (Dec 2023) | Year-on-Year Change (%) |
| <20 | RM1,500 | 0.0 |
| 20 – 24 | RM1,845 | 3.6 |
| 25 – 29 | RM2,600 | 4.0 |
| 30 – 34 | RM3,145 | 3.3 |
| 35 – 39 | RM3,564 | 2.3 |
| 40 – 44 | RM3,827 | 1.7 |
| 45 – 49 | RM3,927 | 3.8 |
| 50 – 54 | RM3,682 | 5.2 |
| 55 – 59 | RM3,382 | 3.0 |
| 60 – 64 | RM2,900 | 7.4 |
| >65 | RM2,755 | 7.0 |
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia
As shown in the table, the median salary for workers increased with age and peaked at ages 45 – 49, after which it starts to trend down. This could be due to several possibilities including opting for less work hours and a preference for less stressful jobs during later years.
The table also showed that the median salaries for all age groups recorded a year-on-year increase from December 2022, except for those aged below 20 years (which remained constant). Employees aged between 60 – 64 had the highest year-on-year increase at 7.4%. This comes as more companies seek to hire retirees through fixed-term contracts, full-time and part-time employment, according to a recent news report.
Do Men Earn More Than Women?
In this day, more companies are aware of salary discrepancy for both genders. Data from the DOSM shows that there is a very slight gap in salary between the two genders. Specifically, men are earning a median salary of RM2,945, which is 3.5% more compared to women earning RM2,845.
| Median Monthly Salary (Dec 2023) | Y-o-Y Change (%) | |
| Male | RM2,945 | 5.2 |
| Female | RM2,845 | 5.4 |
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia
Furthermore, median salaries for both men and women recorded year-on-year increase at similar percentages of 5.2% and 5.3% respectively.
How Much Should You Earn Based On The Industry You’re In?
Salaries of workers can also vary significantly depending on the industries they are in. Thriving industries are likely to offer higher remuneration packages to their workers.
According to DOSM’s data, the median salary for workers in the mining and quarrying industry is the highest at RM6,844. This is followed by the finance and insurance industry with a median salary of RM6,300, and the information and communication industry at RM5,300.
| Industry | Median Salary (Dec 2023) |
| Mining & Quarrying | RM6,844 |
| Finance & Insurance | RM6,300 |
| Information & Communication | RM5,300 |
| Manufacturing | RM3,200 |
| Construction | RM2,814 |
| Agriculture | RM2,300 |
| Food & Beverages | RM1,900 |
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia
Which States Have More Higher Paid Workers?
Median salaries for workers are generally higher in states with the largest economic growth. Income is also closely tied to the cost of living, with more expensive cities tending to offer higher salaries. Data from DOSM shows a significant salary discrepancy across different states. The highest median salaries are found in Kuala Lumpur (RM4,045), Penang (RM3,245), and Selangor (RM3,164), which are also among the states with the highest economic growth in the country.
Penang recorded the highest year-on-year increase in median salary at 8.2%, followed by Johor at 6.9%. Although Kuala Lumpur had the highest median salary, it only experienced a year-on-year increase of 2.5%.
| States | Median Salary (Dec 2023) | Y-o-Y Change (%) |
| Kuala Lumpur | RM4,045 | 2.5 |
| Penang | RM3,245 | 8.2 |
| Selangor | RM3,164 | 5.5 |
| Johor | RM2,673 | 6.9 |
| Malacca | RM2,682 | 6.1 |
| Putrajaya | RM2,482 | 3.4 |
| Negeri Sembilan | RM2,482 | 3.4 |
| Labuan | RM2,327 | 5.8 |
| Sarawak | RM2,100 | 5.0 |
| Pahang | RM2,082 | 4.1 |
| Perak | RM2,082 | 4.1 |
| Terengganu | RM2,000 | 5.3 |
| Kedah | RM2,000 | 6.3 |
| Sabah | RM1,882 | 4.5 |
| Perlis | RM1,700 | 4.5 |
| Kelantan | RM1,600 | 2.3 |
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia
How Much Are You Earning Compared To Other Race Groups?
The DOSM also provided median salary data for the three main race groups in Malaysia. Being the largest ethnic group in Malaysia, the Bumiputera (who consists of peoples of indigenous Malay origin) makes up more than half of the formal employees in the country.
Chinese ethnicity constitutes around 28% of formal employees in the country while Indians make up around 7% of formal employees in the country.
| Race | Median Salary (Dec 2023) | Y-o-Y Change (%) |
| Bumiputera | RM2,427 | 5.5 |
| Chinese | RM4,300 | 5.8 |
| Indian | RM2,864 | 6.1 |
| Others | RM2,164 | 5.8 |
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia
From the table, we can see that workers of all ethnicities had year-on-year increments, with Indian workers recording the highest increment at 6.1%. Chinese ethnicity had the highest median salary of RM4,300.
Read more: High Demand Jobs In Malaysia For 2024 And How Much They Pay
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