In 2023, the average mean monthly salary in Malaysia was ***** Malaysian ringgit, a slight increase from ***** Malaysian ringgit in the previous year. The average monthly salary in Malaysia varies greatly, depending on the education level, the employment sector, and especially between urban and rural areas.

In 2023, Malaysian employees between the ages of 40 and 44 years old earned the highest average monthly salary, at ***** Malaysian ringgit. With a retirement age of just 60 years old, Malaysian workers could look forward to earning more monthly average wage starting from around 40 years old. Economic outlook Malaysia is one of the biggest and strongest economies of South-East Asia, with a relatively low unemployment rate. The average monthly salary steadily increased from ***** Malaysian ringgit in 2014 to ***** Malaysian ringgit in 2023. Employees with a university degree could expect to earn almost twice as much. Can wages keep up with the cost of living? However, when seen in the context of rising living costs, wages in Malaysia have not been able to keep up. Despite having a relatively low inflation rate, prices have still gone up. Malaysians spent more than ** percent of their income on housing and food. In May 2022, the Malaysian government increased the minimum wage to 1,500 Malaysian ringgit monthly, or 7.21 Malaysian ringgit hourly, in the hopes of easing the financial burdens of its citizens.

Wages in Malaysia increased to 3045 MYR/Month in 2024 from 2900 MYR/Month in 2023. This dataset provides - Malaysia Wages- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Minimum Wages in Malaysia increased to 1700 MYR/Month in 2025 from 1500 MYR/Month in 2024. This dataset provides - Malaysia Minimum Wages- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about Malaysia Monthly Earnings

• Malaysia Monthly Earnings stood at 793 USD in Jan 2025, compared with the previous figure of 831 USD in Dec 2024
• Malaysia Monthly Earnings data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2013 to Jan 2025, with an average number of 793 USD
• The data reached the an all-time high of 927 USD in Mar 2018 and a record low of 684 USD in Sep 2015

CEIC calculates Monthly Earnings from monthly Payroll and monthly Employment, and converts it into USD. The Department of Statistics provides Payroll and Employment in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Monthly Earnings cover 251 industries in Manufacturing sector. Monthly Earnings prior to January 2019 cover 155 industries out of a total 259 industries in Manufacturing sector.


Further information about Malaysia Monthly Earnings

• In the latest reports, Malaysia Population reached 34 million people in Dec 2024
• Unemployment Rate of Malaysia dropped to 3 % in Jan 2025
• The country's Labour Force Participation Rate remained the same rate at 71 % in Jan 2025

In 2023, the average mean monthly salary for women in Malaysia was ***** Malaysian ringgit, an increase compared to the previous year. In the same year, the difference between the average monthly salary for female employees and male employees in Malaysia was around *** Malaysian ringgit.

Wages in Manufacturing in Malaysia increased to 3482 MYR/Month in June from 3470 MYR/Month in May of 2025. This dataset provides - Malaysia Wages in Manufacturing - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Malaysia Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data was reported at 74.377 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 74.364 % for 2016. Malaysia Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 74.377 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 76.688 % in 2002 and a record low of 67.782 % in 1991. Malaysia Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Wage and salaried workers (employees) are those workers who hold the type of jobs defined as 'paid employment jobs,' where the incumbents hold explicit (written or oral) or implicit employment contracts that give them a basic remuneration that is not directly dependent upon the revenue of the unit for which they work.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

A The dataset was obtained from multiple sources, including surveys, job posting sites, and other publicly available sources. A total of 100 data points were collected. The dataset included five variables: age, experience, job role, and education level and salary

Abstract

This survey provides salaries & wages statistics at the national level. The survey also provides aggregate data by state as well as urban and rural areas. The survey was carried out using the household approach covering all states in Malaysia. Salaries & Wages Survey uses the personal interview method. During the survey period, trained interviewers visit households in selected living quarters (LQs) to collect demographic information on all household members and salaries & wages particulars of household members aged 15 years and over. The main objective is to collect information on monthly salaries & wages form the principal occupation of paid employee in public and private sectors. The main statistics reported are median and mean monthly salaries & wages by sex, ethnic group, educational attainment, strata, state, occupation and industry. The results of these statistics is published in the 'Salaries & Wages Survey Report'.

Starting with the Salaries & Wages Report 2017, the main statistics presented in the report is for the citizens. Meanwhile, the salaries & wages selected statistics consists of non citizens is shown in a separate table.

Geographic coverage

This survey provides estimates at national and state level as well as urban and rural areas.

Geographic coverage notes

National level.

Analysis unit

Household/Individual

Universe

All household members and salaries & wages particulars of household members aged 15 years and over.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Frequency of data collection

Monthly

Sampling procedure

The survey is carried out using probability sampling through household approach comprising Malaysian citizens and non-citizens. The survey is carried out using probability sampling through household approach comprising Malaysian citizens and non-citizens.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

In 2023, the average monthly salary for Malaysian employees with a diploma was ***** Malaysian ringgit. Malaysian diploma graduates could expect a mean average monthly salary that is higher than the national average in the same year.

Wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in Malaysia was reported at 68.26 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Malaysia - Wage and salary workers; male (% of males employed) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Malaysia Salaries & Wages: Recipients: Melaka data was reported at 346.900 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 336.500 Person th for 2022. Malaysia Salaries & Wages: Recipients: Melaka data is updated yearly, averaging 277.550 Person th from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2023, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 346.900 Person th in 2023 and a record low of 187.300 Person th in 2015. Malaysia Salaries & Wages: Recipients: Melaka data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G081: Salaries & Wages Survey By States.

Key information about Malaysia Household Income per Capita

• Malaysia Annual Household Income per Capita reached 5,731.680 USD in Dec 2022, compared with the previous value of 5,761.586 USD in Dec 2019.
• Malaysia Annual Household Income per Capita data is updated yearly, available from Dec 2002 to Dec 2022, with an averaged value of 4,426.922 USD.
• The data reached an all-time high of 5,761.586 USD in Dec 2019 and a record low of 2,100.510 USD in Dec 2002.
• In the latest reports, Retail Sales of Malaysia grew 12.890 % YoY in Apr 2023.

CEIC calculates Annnual Household Income per Capita from Monthly Average Household Income multiplied by 12, Number of Households and Total Population and converts it into USD. The Department of Statistics provides Average Household Income in local currency and Total Population based on 2020 Census. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission provides Number of Households. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Population prior to 2020 is based on 2010 Census. Population prior to 2010 is based on 2000 Census. Annual Household Income per Capita prior to 2004 is calculated from Number of Household based on 2000 Census.

Wage and salaried workers, total (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in Malaysia was reported at 72.36 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Malaysia - Wage and salaried workers; total (% of total employed) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2023, the average monthly salary for Malaysian employees with a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) as their highest qualification was ***** Malaysian ringgit. An SPM qualification is equivalent to an eleventh grade education.

Graph and download economic data for Gross National Income for Malaysia (MKTGNIMYA646NWDB) from 1960 to 2024 about GNI, Malaysia, and income.

Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Median: Kedah data was reported at 3,811.000 MYR in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,451.000 MYR for 2014. Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Median: Kedah data is updated yearly, averaging 1,681.500 MYR from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,811.000 MYR in 2016 and a record low of 990.000 MYR in 1995. Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Median: Kedah data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.H031: Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey: Monthly Gross Income: Median and Mean: by State.

In 2023, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya had the highest average monthly salary compared to other states in Malaysia, at ***** Malaysian ringgit. By comparison, Kedah had the lowest average monthly salary at ***** Malaysian ringgit.

In 2023, the average monthly salary for employees involved with public administration and defense activities in Malaysia was ***** Malaysian ringgit, a slight increase from ***** Malaysian ringgit the year before. Employees in this sector have a monthly average salary that is higher than the national average.