Top 20 Highest Paying Jobs in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur continues to experience a growth in its GDP, positively impacting the job market in 2022. In 2022, the GDP is expected to grow to a promising 6.2%, a prominent hike from the 3.5% experienced in 2021. The growth can be attributed to a rise in vaccine administration against Covid-19 which has facilitated 79.6% of the population, allowing professionals to return to the workforce.
The job market is opening doors that had remained somewhat bolted between 2020 and 2021. So, if you’ve been debating a switch in career lanes, or are green and stepping into the workforce fresh out of university, look no further. Your questions about the highest paying jobs in Kuala Lumpur have been answered (and how) in this comprehensive guide! Keep reading to find out where the big bucks are and visit our salary guide!
What salary is considered rich in Kuala Lumpur?
The average salary in Kuala Lumpur is RM6,923 (roughly $1650) while the cost of living for a single person is RM3,300. That makes it 57% cheaper than the other Asian cities. The average also varies across industries with a range of lowest average salary being RM1,800 and the highest being RM31,800. A person working in education makes an average monthly salary of RM 5,088, whereas a mining engineer can take home about RM11,125. Healthcare providers’ salary caps at an average of RM10,700 monthly, professionals in Marketing at RM8000, and a person working in Legal can earn an average of RM8,610.
With such a scale, what constitutes a “rich” salary is way above the average salary. That’d be a hefty RM17,600 per month! However, if you are happy leading a comfortable life, RM12000 will be enough.
What is the #1 highest paid position in Kuala Lumpur?
Let’s jump to the most asked question. What’s the highest-paid position in Kuala Lumpur? Hardly any surprises here– C-Suite Roles!
Executive positions are amongst the highest-paid jobs in Kuala Lumpur. Yes, spring chickens don’t often land such roles, but if you start working towards the goal from the get-go and are ready to work hard, you have a shot as good as any. Start with joining a company’s management trainee or graduate program. The programs are designed to help participants learn new skills and provide the training they need to shoot for top-level management roles. Management or graduate trainees often get promoted within the company, giving one a chance to move up the chain.
But if suits and ties are not your cups of tea, here’s a list of the top 20 highest-paying jobs in Kuala Lumpur. Give it a read and find out where the bucks are from the lowest to highest-paying jobs.
20. Advertising Sales Director: Average Salary: 11,300 MYR Per Month
19. Airline Pilot: Average Salary: 11,300 MYR Per Month
18. Architectural Manager: Average Salary: 11,800 MYR Per Month
17. Chief Marketing Officer: Average Salary: 11,800 MYR Per Month
16. Director of Engineering: Average Salary: 11,800 MYR Per Month
15. College Dean: Average Salary:12,700 MYR Per Month
14. Airport Services Manager: Average Salary: 13,500 MYR Per Month
13. Chief Financial Officer: Average Salary: 13,600 MYR Per Month
12. Finance Director: Average Salary: 13,500 MYR Per Month
11. Aviation Manager: Average Salary: 13,700 MYR Per Month
10. Bank Regional Manager: Average Salary: 14,700 MYR Per Month
9. Supreme Court Judge: Average Salary: 19,600 MYR Per Month
8. Surgeon (specialist): Average Salary: 26,500 MYR Per Month
7. Head of Sales: Average Salary: 31,600 MYR Per Month
6. Managing Director of Operations: Average Salary: 33,300 MYR Per Month
5. Procurement Director: Average Salary: 35,000 MYR Per Month
4. Head of Corporate Banking: Average Salary: 37,500 MYR Per Month
3. Medical Director: Average Salary: 40,000 MYR Per Month
2. Head of Shared Services Centre: Average Salary: 41,700 MYR Per Month
1. C-suite roles: Average Salary: 45,800 MYR Per Month
Top 5 Highest Paying Industries in Kuala Lumpur
If you’re still in two minds about the industry to which your dream job belongs or career prospects in a given industry, keep reading for a quick summary of the top 5 highest paying industries in Kuala Lumpur. From Industry info to jobs and career prospects, we’ve tied it all up for you in a neat little package.
Home to some of the highest-paying jobs, the industry is ripe with avenues for those interested in medicine. Yes, you can choose a path that leads you towards becoming a doctor or a surgeon, but you can also look into a career as a nurse, medical assistant, physiotherapist, psychologist and so on. You can expect a higher-than-average salary in each of these roles once you’re out of med school. Here’s a list of the top three highest-paying jobs in healthcare.
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: All over the world, healthcare is consistently reforming with time, and Kuala Lumpur is no different here. Advancements in healthcare continue to provide job opportunities in abundance. An industry that helps ensure the well-being of one and all is unlikely to close doors for professionals. With the RM32.4 billion sanctioned for the industry in Budget 2022, the impact and scope sure look promising.
Legal secretaries, paralegals, and lawyers, all reap the benefits of the many years spent in school learning the A-Z of law. The industry offers more than the country’s average-salary which is likely to afford one a comfortable life. But like healthcare workers, they’re ones spending a decent amount of time and money to get to the part where it all pays off. Here’s a list of the top three highest-paying jobs in legal.
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: The legal industry is one of the sturdiest sectors for recruitment growth currently. If you’ve finished law school, or just stepped into one, consider tax, litigation, insolvency, employment, and construction disputes. The lawyers in these fields have been in high demand all around Malaysia! But that’s not to say that your law degree is futile if you’ve decided not to practice law as a lawyer. You may well teach law at a university, or even serve as an advisor.
If you have an aptitude for all things numbered and get excited about financial reporting, you’re probably going to do well in the finance industry. The industry is constantly undergoing change and growth and is recognized as one of the most forward-thinking industries today. With developments in digital currencies taking the market by the storm, the possibilities are endless. You could venture into financial planning, banking, accountancy… the list goes on.
Top 3 Job Titles
- Global Banking Manager: Average Salary 14,700 MYR Per Month
- Chief Financial Officer: Average Salary 13,600 MYR Per Month
- Investment Advisor: Average Salary 12,500 MYR Per Month
Career prospects: Money makes the world go round. And every company needs someone who can handle the world going round while assessing the quantitative and qualitative dimensions of business problems and analyse market trends. The need for professionals in this sector is perennial and you can expect a considerable number of opportunities. Malaysia is known for its innovation in the financial sector, holds the first rank in the Islamic Finance Development Indicator, and stands second next to Saudi Arabia.
The business and marketing sectors are quite lucrative in Kuala Lumpur. Perhaps, like many tech-savvy students, you’ve already been eyeing blogs online that talk about how to become a social media manager! If you have an eye for detail with a penchant for leadership and communication, business/marketing could be a lucrative career choice. 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 20,700 MYR Per Month
- Chief Marketing Officer: Average Salary 15,200 MYR Per Month
- Advertising Sales Director: Average Salary 11,300 MYR Per Month
Career Prospects: As the economy continues to recover all over Malaysia, small-scale as well as large-scale businesses are slowly but surely returning to the market. Businesses are placing an increased focus on marketing their brand to the masses with an aim to recover past losses. The market has thus seen significant growth in demand for social media managers, content developers, and task managers. The digital age is here to stay, and so are the abundant job opportunities that rely on it.
“Those who can’t do, teach”. The mantra was once prominent and widely accepted but is now a thing of the past. Today, the education sector provides some of the most stable jobs and handsome salaries. One of the few working sectors even while the pandemic was in its full swing (although remotely), education is the stepping stone for each of the high-yielding career options. If your passion lies with imparting knowledge and making a difference, this industry is for you.
Top 3 Job Titles
- College Professor: Average Salary 16,500 MYR Per Month
- Head of the School: Average Salary 11,200 MYR Per Month
- ESL Teacher: Average Salary 8,000 MYR Per Month
Career Prospects: Salaries grew at a rate of 5% yearly from 2015 to 2020, making it one of the fastest-growing industries in the country during that period. It was also the third-biggest employer, employing about 856,000 workers in 2020 despite the pandemic.
Top 5 Highest-Paying Jobs in Kuala Lumpur for Fresh Graduates
The above-mentioned salaries may be expected by those who’ve been in the workforce for a while. But if you’re a greenhorn, and the ins and outs of your preferred industry are still alien to you, the paycheck coming your way may not be so heavy just yet. But don’t fret. You may not be able to pull in a 6-figure salary straight away, but you’ll get there with a few years honing your skillset and getting the required experience. Until you do that, you may take comfort in the fact that several jobs will pay you a decent sum even if you’re fresh out of college and applying to entry-level jobs.
Here’s a list of the top 5 highest-paying jobs in Kuala Lumpur for fresh graduates.
Malaysia boasts some of the chicest architecture in the world. The country is progressive with stunning malls and beautiful mosques among other iconic buildings, a feat accomplished by its many talented civil engineers.
Fresh graduates seeking a career in civil engineering can expect a monthly salary between 4000 MYR to 6000 MYR. Long hours spent outdoors; supervising construction sites is part of the job.
A graduate or post-graduate degree in civil engineering from an acclaimed university in Malaysia is the first step in this direction. A Ph.D. in civil engineering will further open doors to the research and development team of a company for you.
Doctors and medical experts are in high demand in Kuala Lumpur. As a fresh medical graduate, you may apply for an apprentice program to further your footing in this industry. Final year MBBS students or those currently pursuing their Masters of Surgery (MS) have the same option available to them. RM 3,500 to 6,000 is the starting salary for a doctor in Kuala Lumpur with the scope for increment in the future.
An MBBS, BDS, or MS from a recognized Malaysian medical school is mandatory to become a doctor in Kuala Lumpur. It may seem like a long road to success but the high salaries down the road certainly justify the process.
Malaysia has experienced tremendous growth in the tech industry, making strides in the fields of artificial intelligence, software programs, and robotics. The demand for software engineers thus continues to escalate. A software engineer in Kuala Lumpur you can earn an average salary of around 4,700 to 6,500 MYR per month right out of university, making it one of the highest-paying jobs for fresh graduates.
A degree in Computer Science or Information Technology is a must to build a career in this industry. Certified diplomas or a master’s degree in addition to a bachelor’s is likely to broaden your horizons in terms of job search.
The demand for qualified finance professionals has increased rapidly in the past years and will continue to increase in the future. An accountant in Kuala Lumpur can expect between 3,500 and 6,500 MYR per month. Right off the bat, that’s a great salary for an entry-level position with rather promising growth in the future for students investing time and money in this industry.
A degree in finance will get you started off in this field. If you wish to grow and rake in bigger paychecks, consider investing in an MBA or an MS in Finance, Economics, or Statistics at a reputed and recognized university in Malaysia.
Good management equals smooth-running organization. All industries and service sectors need consultants and analysts. So, fresh graduates will usually find ample managerial job vacancies in Kuala Lumpur.
An entry-level job as a management trainee or consultant can afford you between 2,500 MYR to 5,000 per month.
To land such a position you will need a degree in business management or administration. Higher education, such as an MBA in Marketing and Human Resources will further help you get a higher salary.
What Degree Pays Most in Malaysia?
The highest paying jobs in Kuala Lumpur are up for grabs. But they all have one thing in common –A degree from a recognized university in Malaysia to get started. But amidst the plethora of information available to us on the internet in this age and date, it can get unnerving to figure out what exactly those degrees are and what can they potentially pay in the future! Rest easy, below is a list for you with the most in-demand degrees and an estimated return-on-investment on those degrees.
Degree Type | Potential Monthly Salary |
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 |
Remember, each of these degrees, amongst several others, have the potential to help you bag the highest paying jobs in Kuala Lumpur. You could start off with a generalized degree and eventually move towards a specialized field of the industry with a post graduate or accredited diplomas/ certificates as well. Entry level jobs pay significantly less. But by the time you cross the ten-year-mark in the workforce, your salary is likely to double itself from its starting point.
The numbers in the guide serve as an estimate and may not mirror the actual salary you earn. Factors such as your GPA during schooling/university, skillset, and company policies usually have a role to play in the salary one is offered.
Are you ready to apply for a high-paying job in Kuala Lumpur? Do you need help improving your skills so you can qualify for one of the jobs?
If so, check out the GrabJobs Career Resources guide so you can expand your knowledge, increase your chance of getting hired, and set yourself up to land a high-paying career.
Photo by Sadie Teper on Unsplash
