Key points from the infographic
- The graphic maps the median monthly wage in each of Malaysia’s 13 states and 3 federal territories.
- W.P. Kuala Lumpur is highest at RM3,927 and Kelantan lowest at RM1,600, as its headline says.
- All 16 figures match the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) formal sector wage data for March 2023 [1].
- DOSM’s latest monthly figures, for June 2026, put the national median at RM3,000, with Kuala Lumpur at RM4,245 and Kelantan at RM1,827 [1].
- The graphic also gives Singapore (S$5,269, RM18,262) and Brunei (B$900, RM3,119) for comparison, without a source.
Median monthly wages in Malaysia, in text
Section 1, Malaysian States: a grey map of Peninsular and East Malaysia with each state’s flag and wage. Headline: The highest median monthly wages recorded in W.P. Kuala Lumpur while the lowest was in Kelantan. Section 2, Singapore and Brunei: Singapore S$5,269 (RM18,262); Brunei B$900 (RM3,119). The graphic shows no year, source or creator. The DOSM column is added by us for comparison [1].
| State or federal territory | Median monthly wage on the graphic | DOSM, June 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| W.P. Kuala Lumpur | RM3,927 | RM4,245 |
| Selangor | RM2,964 | RM3,245 |
| Pulau Pinang | RM2,627 | RM3,000 |
| W.P. Putrajaya | RM2,464 | RM2,700 |
| Johor | RM2,400 | RM2,727 |
| Negeri Sembilan | RM2,345 | RM2,545 |
| Melaka | RM2,264 | RM2,645 |
| Perak | RM2,000 | RM2,264 |
| Pahang | RM2,000 | RM2,300 |
| Sarawak | RM2,000 | RM2,264 |
| Terengganu | RM1,900 | RM2,164 |
| W.P. Labuan | RM1,900 | RM2,145 |
| Kedah | RM1,827 | RM2,064 |
| Sabah | RM1,782 | RM2,045 |
| Perlis | RM1,627 | RM1,864 |
| Kelantan | RM1,600 | RM1,827 |
| Malaysia | not shown | RM3,000 |
What the DOSM figures measure
DOSM’s dataset gives the number of formal employees and the median monthly wage of employees who are Malaysian citizens, by state [2]. Formal employees are people working under a contract of service or apprenticeship. The self-employed, gig workers, own-account workers and unpaid family workers are not covered [2]. The figures come from administrative records, mainly contributions to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO), and the most recent 15 months can be revised [2].
A median is the middle wage: half of formal workers earn less and half earn more. Unlike an average, it is not pulled up or down by a small number of very high or very low wages.
How wages have moved
Every state’s median has risen since the graphic’s March 2023 figures [1]. Kuala Lumpur is still highest and Kelantan still lowest. In March 2025, DOSM reported a national median of RM3,000 for Malaysia’s 6.8 million formal sector workers, up 5.5% on a year earlier, with Kuala Lumpur at RM4,445 and Sabah, Kelantan and Perlis lowest at RM1,800 to RM2,000 [3]. The same report gave 27.4% of formal employees earning below RM2,000 a month [3].
The gap between states has stayed wide. Kuala Lumpur’s median was about 2.5 times Kelantan’s in March 2023 and about 2.3 times in June 2026 (our arithmetic from the DOSM figures [1]).
Notes on this infographic
- Date. The graphic gives no date. Its 16 figures exactly match DOSM’s formal sector medians for March 2023 [1], so that is almost certainly its month.
- Monthly data. DOSM publishes this series every month, and single months move up and down; the national median was RM3,167 in December 2025 and RM3,000 in June 2026 [1].
- Singapore and Brunei. We could not find the source of the Singapore and Brunei figures, or check that they measure the same thing. The ringgit conversions use about RM3.47 to the dollar. Brunei’s B$900 looks low next to Singapore’s and may be a different measure.
Questions about wages in Malaysia
What is the average salary in Malaysia per month?
DOSM’s monthly series gives the median rather than the average. The median monthly wage of formal sector employees who are Malaysian citizens was RM3,000 in June 2026 [1]. Half of those employees earned more than this and half less.
Which state in Malaysia has the highest wages?
W.P. Kuala Lumpur, with a median of RM4,245 in June 2026, followed by Selangor at RM3,245 and Pulau Pinang at RM3,000. Kelantan is lowest at RM1,827 [1].
Are wages rising in Malaysia?
Yes, every state's median monthly wage has risen since March 2023 [1]. Kuala Lumpur went from RM3,927 then to RM4,245 in June 2026, and Kelantan from RM1,600 to RM1,827 [1]. In March 2025, DOSM reported a national median of RM3,000 for Malaysia's 6.8 million formal sector workers, up 5.5% on a year earlier, with 27.4% of formal employees earning below RM2,000 a month [3].
Who is included in Malaysia's median wage figures?
DOSM's figures cover formal employees who are Malaysian citizens, meaning people working under a contract of service or apprenticeship [2]. The self-employed, gig workers, own-account workers and unpaid family workers are not covered [2]. The data comes from administrative records, mainly contributions to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO), and the most recent 15 months can be revised [2].
Sources
- Department of Statistics Malaysia, Monthly formal sector wages by state, data API (data.gov.my).
- OpenDOSM, Monthly Formal Sector Wages by State, dataset description and methodology.
- Human Resources Online, Median wage in Malaysia’s formal sector climbs to RM3,000, reporting DOSM’s first quarter 2025 release.
Last reviewed 30 October 2026
