Malaysia Salary & Wage Statistics 2025: Median Monthly Pay Rises to RM2,940

Malaysia’s salaries and wages continued to grow in 2025, with both median and mean monthly pay recording increases compared with the previous year.

According to the Salaries & Wages Survey 2025 by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the median monthly salary and wage among Malaysian citizens increased by 5.3% to RM2,940 in 2025. Mean monthly salary and wage also increased by 4.1% to RM3,803.

The latest figures provide an overview of salary trends across different skill levels, genders and states in Malaysia, offering useful insights for employers and job seekers when looking at current wage levels.

Median vs Mean Salary in Malaysia

The median salary represents the middle point of the wage distribution, meaning half of workers earn above the figure while the other half earn below it.

In 2025, Malaysian citizens recorded:

Median monthly salary: RM2,940, up 5.3%
Mean monthly salary: RM3,803, up 4.1%

The DOSM data shows that the median salary grew faster than the mean salary in 2025.

Looking at the longer-term trend, median monthly pay increased from RM2,602 in 2023 to RM2,793 in 2024 and RM2,940 in 2025. Mean monthly pay rose from RM3,441 in 2023 to RM3,652 in 2024 and RM3,803 in 2025.

Salary Differences Between Male and Female Employees

The 2025 statistics also show differences in monthly salaries between male and female Malaysian citizens.

Male employees recorded:

Median monthly salary: RM3,014
Mean monthly salary: RM3,921

Female employees recorded:

Median monthly salary: RM2,788
Mean monthly salary: RM3,635

Both male and female employees recorded salary growth, with the mean monthly salary for men remaining higher than that of women in the 2025 data.

Skilled Workers Continue to Record Higher Salaries

Skill level was another major factor associated with differences in monthly wages.

According to DOSM, skilled workers recorded the highest median and mean monthly salaries among the three skill categories:

Skill Level	Median Monthly Salary	Mean Monthly Salary
Skilled	RM5,057	RM5,799
Semi-skilled	RM2,223	RM2,714
Low-skilled	RM1,758	RM2,184

Skilled workers recorded mean monthly salaries of RM5,799, while semi-skilled workers recorded RM2,714 and low-skilled workers RM2,184.

This means the wage gap between different skill groups remains significant, highlighting the role that skills and occupational requirements can play in salary levels.

Putrajaya Records the Highest Average Salary

Salary levels also differed considerably across Malaysian states and federal territories.

The DOSM infographic shows that W.P. Putrajaya recorded the highest median and mean monthly salaries and wages, followed by W.P. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

The reported figures are:

State / Federal Territory	Median Salary	Mean Salary
W.P. Putrajaya	RM4,828	RM5,417
W.P. Kuala Lumpur	RM3,938	RM4,955
Selangor	RM3,547	RM4,258

The figures suggest notable differences in salary levels between major economic centres and other parts of Malaysia.

What the 2025 Salary Data Means for Employers?

The latest salary statistics can also provide useful reference points for companies planning their recruitment and compensation strategies.

For employers, understanding prevailing salary levels can help when:

Setting salary ranges for new positions
Planning recruitment budgets
Comparing salaries across skill levels
Reviewing employee compensation
Identifying competitive salary ranges for different locations
Planning workforce requirements for the year ahead

For job seekers, salary statistics can provide a broader reference when researching potential career paths, industries and locations.

Malaysia Salary Trends in 2026

Overall, Malaysia’s 2025 salary data shows continued growth in monthly wages.

The 5.3% increase in median monthly salary to RM2,940 indicates that the middle point of the wage distribution moved higher compared with 2024. At the same time, mean monthly salary increased 4.1% to RM3,803.

However, salary levels continued to vary according to skill level, gender and location. Skilled workers and employees in Putrajaya recorded substantially higher mean salaries than their respective lower-skilled and lower-paying groups.

For employers, these differences can be useful when reviewing hiring budgets and salary expectations. For job seekers, they provide a snapshot of Malaysia’s changing wage landscape in 2025.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Salaries & Wages Survey 2025. The infographic covers median and mean monthly salaries and wages by sex, citizenship, skill level and selected states.

FAQ

What is the median salary in Malaysia in 2025?
The median monthly salary and wage for Malaysian citizens was RM2,940 in 2025, representing a 5.3% increase from 2024.

What is the average salary in Malaysia in 2025?
The mean monthly salary and wage for Malaysian citizens reached RM3,803 in 2025, increasing 4.1% year-on-year.

Which Malaysian state has the highest salary?
Among the states and federal territories highlighted by DOSM, W.P. Putrajaya recorded the highest median and mean monthly salaries, at RM4,828 and RM5,417 respectively.

Which skill level has the highest salary in Malaysia?
Skilled workers recorded the highest mean monthly salary at RM5,799, followed by semi-skilled workers at RM2,714 and low-skilled workers at RM2,184.

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