THE Department of Statistics Malaysia’s (DOSM) Employee Wages Statistics (Formal Sector), Second Quarter 2026, reported a median monthly wage of RM3,000 for Malaysian citizens in formal employment in June 2026, representing a 4.8% increase year-on-year.
The national median is a useful reference point, but it cannot tell a jobseeker what to expect from their next offer or an employer what constitutes a competitive salary for a particular role.
Those decisions require a closer look at the job, the experience required and the location. Jobstreet by SEEK’s platform data provides a complementary view of advertised salaries.
Among Malaysian job advertisements disclosing a monthly salary in ringgit, the median advertised minimum remained unchanged at RM3,000 in both Q2 2025 and Q2 2026.
These figures measure the minimum monthly salaries advertised in vacancies posted between April and June in each year. DOSM, meanwhile, measures wages received by formal employees, including bonuses, commissions and allowances.
The advertised figures also reflect the changing mix of vacancies. Retail and hospitality roles accounted for a larger share of salary-disclosing advertisements in Q2 2026, influencing the overall median.
The two datasets should therefore not be compared directly. Looking at individual job categories provides a more specific benchmark.
Banking and Financial Services recorded a median advertised minimum of RM4,000 in Q2 2026, up 14.3% from RM3,500 in Q2 2025.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) also recorded an increase, rising 11.1% from RM4,500 to RM5,000 over the same period.
For candidates and employers, these differences reinforce the importance of benchmarking salaries against comparable roles, taking into account seniority, responsibilities and specialist skills.
Geography is another important consideration. DOSM’s latest findings show significant differences in wages across states, with Kuala Lumpur recording the highest median monthly wage at RM4,245 in June 2026.
Sabah, at RM2,045, was among the states with the lowest medians, alongside Kelantan and Perlis.
Jobstreet’s separate advertised salary data provides further context for candidates assessing opportunities across locations.
In Q2 2026, the median advertised minimum was RM3,500 in Kuala Lumpur, compared with RM2,100 in Sabah and RM2,000 across Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang combined.
These figures cover different mixes of advertised jobs and do not establish a pay gap for identical work. Candidates considering relocation should weigh any potential salary increase against housing and transport costs, as well as opportunities for career progression.
For jobseekers, the practical starting point is to compare salaries for positions with similar responsibilities and experience requirements.
Where better-paid opportunities require additional skills, this comparison can help candidates decide which training or professional development would be most valuable.
They should also ask how salaries are reviewed, what performance expectations apply and what career progression involves before accepting an offer.
For employers, publishing clear salary ranges alongside skills and role requirements helps candidates assess whether an opportunity meets their expectations.
Offers should be benchmarked against comparable positions in the relevant location, with a clear explanation of how employees can develop and progress.
A competitive offer needs to stand up to scrutiny today while giving candidates a credible picture of what comes next.
Employers should be able to explain not only the salary on offer, but also what employees need to demonstrate to grow and progress. ‒ Oct 30, 2026
Nicholas Lam is the Managing Director of Jobstreet by SEEK Malaysia.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
