Malaysia’s Median Wage Climbs 4% to RM3,167 in December 2025, Kelantan Records Lowest Pay
Malaysia’s labour market ended 2025 on a stronger note as the country’s median monthly wage for formal sector employees rose to RM3,167 in December 2025, according to the latest report by Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
The new figure reflects a 4.0% increase compared to RM3,045 recorded in December 2024, highlighting steady income growth across the formal workforce.
At the same time, the total number of formal employees also expanded by 3.6% year-on-year, reaching 7.08 million workers by the end of 2025.
Steady Wage Growth Throughout Final Quarter
DOSM noted that wage growth remained consistent during the fourth quarter of 2025. Median monthly wages rose by 4.3% in October and November, before easing slightly to 4.0% in December.
This suggests Malaysia’s labour market continued to remain resilient amid stable economic growth.
Male Employees Still Dominate Workforce
Male workers accounted for 55.1% of Malaysia’s formal workforce, representing 3.90 million employees. Their median monthly wage stood at RM3,167.
Meanwhile, female employees made up 44.9%, or 3.18 million workers, earning a median monthly wage of RM3,120.
Highest Paid Age Group Revealed
Workers aged 45 to 49 years old continued to receive the highest salaries during the quarter.
In December 2025, employees in this age group earned a median monthly wage of RM4,245, up significantly from RM3,845 in November and RM3,827 in October.
Meanwhile, the strongest annual wage growth came from workers aged below 20 years old, whose wages jumped 11.3% to RM1,700.
Mining Sector Pays the Highest
Across all industries, wages improved in the final quarter of 2025.
The mining and quarrying sector recorded the highest median wage in Malaysia at RM7,900, despite employing only 0.5% of the formal workforce.
On the other hand, the agriculture sector posted the lowest median wage at RM2,564, although it still achieved a strong 7.6% annual increase.
Kuala Lumpur Highest, Kelantan Lowest
By state, Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest median monthly wage at RM4,391.
It was followed by:
- Penang – RM3,500
- Selangor – RM3,400
States with the lowest wages were:
- Kelantan – RM1,800
- Perlis – RM1,864
- Sabah – RM2,045
Lower-Income Workers Also See Improvement
DOSM also highlighted progress among lower-income earners.
Only 8.4% of formal employees earned below RM1,700 per month in December 2025 a sharp improvement compared with December 2024.
Further analysis showed:
- Bottom 10% of workers earned RM1,700 or less
- Top 10% earned RM11,122 or more
Positive Outlook for Malaysia’s Economy
The latest wage figures indicate improving income levels, stronger employment growth, and a more resilient labour market across Malaysia.
With wages rising across sectors, states, and age groups, Malaysia closed 2025 with encouraging momentum heading into the new year.
