Average monthly salary, wage of Malaysians, up 4.1pct to RM3,803 in 2025

PUTRAJAYA: In 2025, the typical monthly income of Malaysians surged by 4.1 percent to RM3,803, up from RM3,652 in the previous year, as reported by the Salaries and Wages Survey 2025 by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). The median monthly pay also rose by 5.3 percent to RM2,940 from RM2,793 in 2024. The number of individuals receiving monthly salaries climbed to 12.01 million, an increase from 11.96 million in 2024.

Malaysians comprised 10.38 million, or 86.4 percent, of all full-time paid workers. The services industry, accounting for 71.5 percent, played a major role in the rise in the number of wage earners, growing by 1.8 percent to 7.42 million. The mining and quarrying sector had the highest average monthly salary at RM6,175, followed by services (RM3,993), manufacturing (RM3,357), construction (RM3,188), and agriculture (RM2,575).

Skilled workers, who made up 36.6 percent of all salary earners, earned the highest average monthly salary at RM5,799, compared to RM5,582 in 2024. Semi-skilled workers saw a 4.2 percent increase in average salary to RM2,714 from RM2,604, while low-skilled workers rose by 2.6 percent to RM2,184 from RM2,128. Selangor had the highest share of salary earners, accounting for 25.6 percent of the total, followed by Johor (13.6 percent) and Sarawak (7.6 percent).

Five states, including Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, and Labuan, had average monthly salaries and wages above the national level. The positive growth in average and median monthly salaries and wages in 2025 indicates better labor market conditions and higher worker incomes. To ensure sustainable real wage growth and workers' well-being, continued efforts to boost productivity, improve skills, and create high-value jobs are essential.

In line with the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), developing a competitive and productive workforce and strengthening labor market reforms are crucial for sustainable and inclusive wage growth.