BEST PAYING JOBS IN MALAYSIA

Truth be told, getting some statistics on Malaysian setting, is not as easy as I thought it would be.
It is either private or confidential (P&C) or you have to pay incredible amount of money to
research consulting companies for the research they have done.

I did a search in the Net, it is amazing how much info I can get, on other countries. Malaysia?
Very limited and not so detailed and comprehensive.

Since the audience of my writings goes mostly to fresh and/or would-be graduates, then, let’s
focus on that first.

It is important for students and graduates to get to know the profession and the industry they are
getting into. I have made that statement once or twice before. Remember, your main purpose is
to get a job. Preferably a paying job.

What are the best paying jobs in Malaysia?

A survey done by a recruitment agency, a popular employment services company in Malaysia,

had the following results:

Top five highest paying Fresh Graduates positions

Average
Industry Specialization Salary (50%
percentile)
Bachelor’s Degree/Professional
Semiconductor/Wafer Fabrication Degree/Post Graduate Diploma in RM 2400
Engineering
Bachelor’s Degree/Professional
Degree/Post Graduate Diploma in
Banking RM 2100
Computer Science/Information
Technology
Bachelor’s Degree/Professional
Manufacturing Degree/Post Graduate Diploma in RM 2089
Engineering
Bachelor’s Degree/Professional
Science &
Degree/Post Graduate Diploma in RM 2050
Technology/Aerospace/Biotechnology
Engineering
Bachelor’s Degree/Professional
Electrical & Electronic Degree/Post Graduate Diploma in RM 2050
Sciences
Please be reminded that, these figures denote an average. Variations will occur depending on the
size of the company, job demands and other perks that are packaged into the pay.

You should be made aware that, these are the figures you should be quoting for when applying
for the job. I have seen job applications from fresh graduate demanding, and I mean demanding
50% to 100% more than the figures above. Either they think too highly of themselves, or
ignorant of current market value. However, just in case you are interested to know, where your
job is leading towards, in terms of pay, the agency also provided the following results:

Top five highest paying Senior Management positions

Average Salary (50%

Industry Specialization
percentile)
Manufacturing IT/Computers RM10390
Services IT/Computers RM 9950
Marketing and Business
Oil/Gas/Petroleum RM9604
Development
Telecommunication Non-Technical Sales RM9500
Financial Human Resources
RM9345
Services/Securities/Insurance /Administration/Personnel

As a comparison, how do we stand up against the Americans.

The best-paying jobs in America

Occupation Annual salary (USD) Avg. hours per week
Surgeons $189,590 63
Anesthesiologists $181,420 60
Obstetricians, gynecologists $179,640 57
Internists, general $158,350 60
Pediatricians, general $142,360 53
Family, general practitioners $136,260 54
Psychiatrists $135,220 46
CEOs $134,960 Varies greatly
Dentists $133,350 37.6
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
You will notice that the surveys done in Malaysia does not cover the medical profession. Rightly
so! The medical profession is a highly specialized profession with requiring special aptitude and
capabilities. Many do not have them. I am one of them.

Yes, it would be nice to have that extra money. Who wouldn’t? Furthermore, why would I be
going into a job that hardly pays?

True, we all could use that extra cash to help us in our daily and monthly expenses, like paying
for the house, car, bills and other expenses. Including some luxury indulgence every now and
then, like traveling overseas.

Try not to choose a job solely on how much money it makes.

Remember the saying “money can’t buy love or happiness”? Well, the reason the saying has
been around for a long time is because it is true.

The point I would like to make is, and it has been in my previous 2 – 3 articles that, “If you like
what you do, you end up doing it very well, you get noticed, and you will eventually get paid”.

As mentioned earlier, you need to have the right attitude to get into a specific profession. Like a
doctor. Or if you are not good in mathematics, like me, you might want to stay away from
becoming an engineer, architect, physicist and etc.

Or if language is not your thing or you do not have the gift of the speech, maybe you should not
try to become a TV newscast, a TV host or a radio DJ. I am not saying don’t go for it. You can.
Maybe you need extra help and training to get you there. But, be aware of what your strengths
and weaknesses are.

Take a simple test. If I ask you to write or tell me something you are interested in, what topic or
area that you can go on writing or speaking effortlessly, passionately and with a glow on your
face that others reading or listening to you can tell you are really into it?

Think about it, shouldn’t you be doing the thing you love. You are going to spend an enormous
amount of time, between 8 – 10 hours a day, 5 – 6 days a week (sometimes more) doing this job
you are in. If you can find a job that has some promise of a career path, it pays well AND you
love doing it, well go for it.

But if not, consider carefully the decision you have to make because the best-paid jobs are
those that pay off not only in money, but also in satisfaction and happiness.
TAHUN 2017