What are the top 20 highest-paying jobs in Malaysia? Find career options with the highest salary in Malaysia and start applying today!
Are you looking for a high-paying job in Malaysia? Maybe you’re a student making career plans and wondering what path will set you up for a generous salary later on. Or perhaps you’re hoping to make a change mid-career to maximize your earning potential. Whatever your current work situation, if you’re wondering about the best-paid jobs in Malaysia, this guide is for you!
Fortunately, Malaysia’s job market is improving after being hit hard by COVID-19, and there are high-paying jobs opening up throughout the country. Read on to learn about the top 20 highest-paying jobs in Malaysia.
This article also covers the following topics:
- What Salary Is Considered Rich in Malaysia?
- What Is the #1 Highest-Paid Position in Malaysia?
- What Are the Top 20 Highest-Paying Jobs in Malaysia?
- Top 5 Highest-Paying Industries in Malaysia
- Top 5 Highest-Paying Jobs in Malaysia for Fresh Graduates
- What Degree Pays The Most in Malaysia?
- Find the Highest-Paying Jobs in Malaysia Today
Before we discuss the highest-paying jobs in Malaysia, let’s break down the average salary in the country.
The average person in Malaysia earns approximately 6,540 MYR per month (that’s equivalent to close to $1300 USD in 2024). The lowest average salary in the country is 1,795 MYR per month, and the highest average salary is 29,266 MYR per month.
To be considered “rich” in Malaysia, you’d need to earn well above the average monthly salary. If your salary falls somewhere between the 50th and 75th percentile (i.e., you earned between 6,540 MYR and 17,600 MYR per month), you’d likely be able to live quite comfortably here. If your salary is even higher than 17,600 MYR per month, you’d almost certainly be considered “rich.”
For more context, monthly expenses for a family of four in Malaysia are about 6,817 MYR per month. For a single person, expenses are quite a bit lower—around 1,924 MYR per month.
What Is the #1 Highest-Paid Position in Malaysia?
Now, let’s explore the best-paid jobs in Malaysia. If you want to earn the highest salary possible in this country, you ought to consider a prestigious career as a heart transplant surgeon. Of course, this isn’t an easy career path to pursue and requires years of medical school, training, and specialization—which is why it’s the highest-paid job in Malaysia.
What’s the salary of heart surgeons in Malaysia? On average, heart transplant surgeons earn around 29,400 MYR per month. That’s more than 4 times the average monthly earnings in the country.
Don’t want to work as a heart surgeon? The good news is that there are plenty of other highly paid jobs in Malaysia, including the following list of 20 top-paying jobs, which we’ve listed in order from lowest to highest salary:
What Are the Top 20 Highest-Paying Jobs in Malaysia?
20. Advertising Sales Director
Advertising Sales Director Average Salary: 11,300 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Advertising Sales Director Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
19. Airline Pilot
Airline Pilot Average Salary: 11,300 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Airline Pilot Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
18. Architectural Manager
Architectural Manager Average Salary: 11,800 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Architectural Manager Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
17. Chief Marketing Officer
Chief Marketing Officer Average Salary: 11,800 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Chief Marketing Officer Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
16. Director of Engineering
Director of Engineering Average Salary: 11,800 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Director of Engineering Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
15. College Dean
College Dean Average Salary:12,700 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse College Dean Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
14. Airport Services Manager
Airport Services Manager Average Salary: 13,500 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Airport Services Manager Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
13. Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer Average Salary: 13,500 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Chief Financial Officer Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
12. Finance Director
Finance Director Average Salary: 13,600 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Finance Director Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
11. Aviation Manager
Aviation Manager Average Salary: 13,700 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Aviation Manager Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
10. Bank Regional Manager
Bank Regional Manager Average Salary: 14,700 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Bank Regional Manager Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
9. Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Officer Average Salary: 14,700 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Chief Executive Officer Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
8. Global Banking Manager
Global Banking Manager Average Salary: 14,700 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Global Banking Manager Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
7. General Counsel
General Counsel Average Salary: 15,700 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse General Counsel Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
6. Administrative Law Judge
Administrative Law Judge Average Salary: 17,600 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Administrative Law Judge Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
5. Supreme Court Judge
Supreme Court Judge Average Salary: 19,600 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Supreme Court Judge Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
4. Reconstructive Surgeon
Reconstructive Surgeon Average Salary: 26,500 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Reconstructive Surgeon Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
3. Orthopedic Surgeon
Orthopedic Surgeon Average Salary: 27,400 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Orthopedic Surgeon Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
2. Chief of Surgery
Chief of Surgery Average Salary: 28,400 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Chief of Surgery Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
1. Heart Transplant Surgeon
Heart Transplant Surgeon Average Salary: 29,400 MYR Per Month
👉 Browse Heart Transplant Surgeon Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
Top 5 Highest-Paying Industries in Malaysia
If you want to earn a good salary but aren’t 100 percent sure which career you want to pursue, it might be a good starting point to consider which industries you’re most interested in. Here’s a breakdown of the 5 highest-paying industries in Malaysia:
1. Healthcare
The healthcare industry is, understandably, one of the highest-paying industries in Malaysia. It takes a lot of time and money to become a doctor or surgeon, so it makes sense that healthcare workers would earn higher-than-average salaries. For those who want to work in healthcare and earn the highest salary possible, here are the top 3 positions to consider:
Top 3 Job Titles
- Heart Transplant Surgeon: Average Salary 29,400 MYR Per Month
- Orthopedic Surgeon: Average Salary 27,400 MYR Per Month
- Reconstructive Surgeon: Average Salary 26,500 MYR Per Month
Career Prospects
Not only are jobs in healthcare high-paying, but they also come with better-than-average career prospects. There will always be a need for healthcare workers in Malaysia and in other parts of the world, so the chances of someone finding a good job after they graduate from medical school are very good.
👉 Browse Healthcare Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
2. Legal
The legal industry is another high-paying industry in Malaysia. Lawyers, judges, and others who work in this field earn very high salaries (much higher than the country’s average monthly salary) because, like doctors, they invest a lot of time and money upfront in earning their degrees. This hard work pays off later on when they start receiving generous salaries.
Top 3 Job Titles
- Supreme Court Judge: Average Salary 19,600 MYR Per Month
- Administrative Law Judge: Average Salary 17,600 MYR Per Month
- General Counsel: Average Salary 15,700 MYR Per Month
Career Prospects
There are plenty of career opportunities in Malaysia for people who want to work in the legal field. Whether you want to pursue a career as a lawyer (general counsel) or work toward becoming a judge, there are lots of options. Legal graduates can also go on to serve as advisors and lecturers at universities if they don’t want to actually practice law in the traditional way.
👉 Browse Legal Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
3. Finance
Finance jobs are some of the best-paid jobs in Malaysia. If you’re good with numbers and are interested in working with money, there are plenty of well-paying jobs that you may want to consider. The following are 3 of the highest-paying finance jobs that you might want to look into in Malaysia:
Top 3 Job Titles
- Global Banking Manager: Average Salary 14,700 MYR Per Month
- Bank Regional Manager: Average Salary 14,700 MYR Per Month
- Bank Regional Manager: Average Salary 14,700 MYR Per Month
Career Prospects
There will always be a need for finance experts who can help people manage their money. People who pursue careers in finance can work with individuals and businesses to offer money management advice, investment advice, and more. If you choose to work in this field, you’ll have plenty of job options to choose from, many of which come with good job prospects and job security.
👉 Browse Finance Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
4. Business/Marketing
The business and marketing sectors can also be quite lucrative in Malaysia. If you want to work in the business world and have an eye for marketing, promotion, sales, or a related field, you’ll find plenty of high-paying options here. The following are 3 of the highest-paying business/marketing jobs to consider in this country:
Top 3 Job Titles
- Chief Executive Officer: Average Salary 14,700 MYR Per Month
- Chief Marketing Officer: Average Salary 11,800 MYR Per Month
- Advertising Sales Director: Average Salary 11,300 MYR Per Month
Career Prospects
There are lots of opportunities in the business and marketing world for those who want to earn high salaries. New businesses are regularly popping up in Malaysia, especially now that the economy is starting to recover.
Whether you want to launch your own company or if you want to join an already established business and help to make it better, there are plenty of options for you to consider, many of which come with good earning potential and job security.
👉 Browse Banking Jobs & Marketing Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
5. Aviation
The aviation industry is another profitable one in Malaysia and is a good choice to consider if you want to earn an above-average salary. Of the highest-paying industries in Malaysia, Aviation is not as lucrative as some other fields, but it does offer good salaries and lots of room for growth. The following are the 3 top-paying jobs within the aviation sector:
Top 3 Job Titles
- Aviation Manager: Average Salary 13,700 MYR Per Month
- Airport Services Manager: Average Salary 13,500 MYR Per Month
- Airline Pilot: Average Salary 11,300 MYR Per Month
Career Prospects
Aviation careers are not just exciting and profitable. They also come with good job prospects and lots of room for advancement over time. You may start your career as a pilot and eventually work your way up to a management position, which will come with a significant raise and more opportunities.
👉 Browse Aviation Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
Top 5 Highest-Paying Jobs in Malaysia for Fresh Graduates
There are some differences between the highest-paying jobs in Malaysia and the highest-paying jobs in Malaysia for new graduates.
When you first leave school and start your career, you likely won’t be qualified for some of the highest-paid jobs in the country—at least, not right away. After all, becoming a CEO or heart surgeon requires years of experience and training.
That being said, if your goal is to start earning a high salary right after graduation, here are 5 of the best jobs to consider:
1. Civil Engineer
As a civil engineer, you can start earning a good salary right out of university. There’s a high demand for civil engineers in Malaysia, especially since the country is known for its stunning architecture and impressive infrastructure.
In Malaysia, new civil engineering graduates can earn between 4,000 and 6,000 MYR per month. For many people here, this is considered a great starting salary. There is a lot of room to grow and earn more money over time in this field, too.
To become a civil engineer in Malaysia, you must first earn a graduate or postgraduate civil engineering degree. Some students also go on to earn a Ph.D. in civil engineering so they can go on to work on research and development teams.
👉 Browse Civil Engineer Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
2. Doctor
Doctors, surgeons, and other healthcare workers all, in most cases, earn higher than average salaries when they graduate from university.
Once they get hired at a hospital or healthcare clinic, most doctors and healthcare workers can start receiving generous salaries. They have opportunities to move up and earn even more money once they’ve established themselves in their field, too.
For a doctor, the average starting salary falls between 3,500 to 6,000 MYR per month. As you gain more experience and education, though, there’s a lot of room to earn more per month, especially if you go on to pursue a more advanced career as a surgeon or chief of surgery.
To become a doctor in Malaysia, you need to earn an MBBS, BDS, or MS degree from a recognized and accredited Malaysian medical school.
👉 Browse Doctor Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
3. Software Engineer
The tech industry is rapidly growing in Malaysia, and there are lots of career opportunities here for software engineers. If you are skilled in things like software development and programming, you’ll have lots of opportunities to assist with program creation, website development, tech support, and more.
As a software engineer in Malaysia, you can earn an average salary of around 4,700 to 6,500 MYR per month. This makes software engineering one of the most lucrative careers for fresh graduates.
A degree in Computer Science or Information Technology can help you to start landing software engineering jobs. If you go on to earn a more advanced degree, like a master’s or doctoral degree, you’ll have even more doors open to you, including doors to management and executive positions.
👉 Browse Software Engineer Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
4. Accountant
As we mentioned above, there are many high-paying finance careers in Malaysia. However, the highest-paying finance careers (such as Chief Financial Officer) aren’t immediately accessible to fresh graduates. That being said, you can still earn a high salary as a new graduate, though, by pursuing a degree and career in accounting.
An accountant in Malaysia can earn between 3,500 and 6,500 MYR per month, on average. This is a great starting salary that comes with a lot of room for growth over time, especially after you’ve worked at a particular company for a while.
To become an accountant in Malaysia, you’ll need to earn a finance, economics, or statistics degree. A master’s or doctoral degree can open more doors and more opportunities for higher salaries, too.
👉 Browse Accountant Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
5. Business Analyst
Business analysts help business owners to run their companies smoothly and make wise decisions for the future.
As a business analyst, you can get your foot in the door at a larger company, which can make it easier for you to start working your way up. Eventually, you could find yourself in a management or executive position, which would allow for more responsibility and more money.
Business analysts can earn an average of 2,500 to 5,000 MYR per month. This is a slightly lower-than-average salary in Malaysia, but it’s typically just a starting point. There’s room for a lot more growth over time.
To become a business analyst, you’ll need to earn a degree in business administration, business management, or another related field. An MBA or other, more advanced degree, can increase your chances of getting hired, too.
👉 Browse Business Analyst Jobs in Malaysia on GrabJobs
What Degree Pays Most in Malaysia?
To qualify for many of the highest-paying jobs in Malaysia for fresh graduates, you’ll likely need a university degree. If you’re willing to go back to school to land one of the best-paid jobs in Malaysia, here’s a breakdown of the most lucrative degrees to consider, along with the potential salaries attached to them:
Degree Type
Engineering
4,000-6,000 MYR per month
Medical
3,500 to 6,000 MYR per month
Computer Science
4,700 to 6,500 MYR per month
Accounting
3,500 and 6,500 MYR per month
Business
2,500 to 5,000 MYR per month
These are some of the highest-paying degrees to pursue if you want to earn a good salary right out of college or university. Obtaining one of these degrees can also set you up to eventually land one of the highest-paying jobs in Malaysia later on in your career.
It’s worth noting that there are plenty of other high-paying degrees in Malaysia to consider. The salary ranges in the table above are estimates to give you a point of reference, but your actual salary and earning potential might be higher or lower depending on when you graduate, where you choose to work, and whether you decide to specialize, among other factors.
Find the Highest-Paying Jobs in Malaysia Today
You now have a better understanding of the highest-paying jobs in Malaysia. With this information in mind, hopefully you have a clearer idea of which career path you want to pursue.
Whether you’re looking to make a job change today or are planning for the future, be sure to keep this list of jobs (and degree requirements) handy for future reference.
Looking to take the next step in your career path or job hunt? Check out GrabJobs’ career resources, too. These guides and resources will help you learn how to increase your skill set and set yourself up for success when you start applying for high-paying jobs.
