Grade 9 is the entry grade for degree holders in the Pengurusan dan Profesional group of the federal public service. Each scheme's page at the Public Service Commission (SPA) states the starting basic salary, the gaji permulaan, for each qualification it accepts. All grade 9 schemes share one salary range under the SSPA scale, so what differs between schemes is where on the range a new officer starts.
This article takes the 66 degree-entry schemes at grade 9 whose SPA page states a starting salary, ranks them by that figure, and adds the fixed allowances a new appointee receives in Kuala Lumpur and the other Kawasan A areas.
Starting basic pay runs from RM2,250 to RM3,130 a month across the 66 schemes. With fixed allowances in Kawasan A the figure runs from RM3,150 to RM4,780.
Which schemes start highest?
| Rank | Scheme (SPA) | Starting basic | Highest listed rate | Critical incentive | With allowances, Kawasan A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pegawai Perubatan Gred UD9 guide | 3,130 | – | RM750 | 4,780 |
| 2 | Akauntan Gred WA9 guide | 3,020 | – | – | 3,920 |
| 3 | Pegawai Pergigian Gred UG9 guide | 3,020 | – | RM750 | 4,670 |
| 4 | Arkitek Gred J9 guide | 2,910 | – | RM165 | 3,975 |
| 5 | Pegawai Farmasi Gred UF9 guide | 2,910 | – | RM750 | 4,560 |
| 6 | Pegawai Veterinar Gred GV9 | 2,910 | – | – | 3,810 |
| 7 | Pegawai Perancang Bandar dan Desa Gred J9 | 2,690 | 3,130 | – | 3,590 |
| 8 | Arkitek Landskap Gred J9 | 2,690 | – | RM165 | 3,755 |
| 9 | Jurugeospatial Gred J9 | 2,690 | – | – | 3,590 |
| 10 | Jurutera Gred J9 guide | 2,690 | – | RM165 | 3,755 |
| 11 | Juruukur Bahan Gred J9 | 2,690 | – | RM165 | 3,755 |
| 12 | Juruukur Bangunan Gred J9 | 2,690 | – | – | 3,590 |
| 13 | Juruukur Gred J9 | 2,690 | – | – | 3,590 |
| 14 | Pegawai Penilaian Gred W9 | 2,690 | – | – | 3,590 |
| 15 | Pemeriksa Kilang dan Jentera Gred J9 | 2,690 | – | RM165 | 3,755 |
| 16 | Pegawai Laut Gred AL9 | 2,580 | 3,460 | RM165 | 3,645 |
| 17 | Pegawai Penyelidik Gred Q9 | 2,580 | 3,350 | RM165 | 3,645 |
| 18 | Pegawai Tadbir dan Diplomatik Gred M9 guide | 2,580 | 3,350 | – | 3,480 |
| 19 | Pegawai Teknologi Maklumat Gred F9 guide | 2,580 | 3,350 | – | 3,480 |
| 20 | Pegawai Geosains Gred C9 | 2,580 | 2,690 | – | 3,480 |
| 21 | Pegawai Pertanian Gred G9 | 2,580 | 2,690 | RM165 | 3,645 |
| 22 | Juru X-Ray Gred U9 | 2,580 | – | – | 3,480 |
| 23 | Jururawat Gred U9 guide | 2,580 | – | RM165 | 3,645 |
| 24 | Pegawai Dietetik Gred U9 | 2,580 | – | – | 3,480 |
| 25 | Pegawai Kawalan Alam Sekitar Gred C9 | 2,580 | – | – | 3,480 |
| 26 | Pegawai Kesihatan Persekitaran Gred U9 | 2,580 | – | – | 3,480 |
| 27 | Pegawai Meteorologi Gred C9 | 2,580 | – | – | 3,480 |
| 28 | Pegawai Optometri Gred U9 | 2,580 | – | – | 3,480 |
| 29 | Pegawai Pemulihan Perubatan Gred U9 guide | 2,580 | – | – | 3,480 |
| 30 | Pegawai Penyediaan Makanan Gred C9 | 2,580 | – | – | 3,480 |
| 31 | Pegawai Sains Gred C9 | 2,580 | – | – | 3,480 |
| 32 | Pegawai Syariah Gred LS9 | 2,580 | – | – | 3,480 |
| 33 | Pegawai Teknologi Makanan Gred C9 | 2,580 | – | – | 3,480 |
| 34 | Pegawai Undang-undang Gred L9 guide | 2,580 | – | RM165 | 3,645 |
| 35 | Pemelihara Hutan Gred G9 | 2,580 | – | – | 3,480 |
| 36 | Pengajar Gred U9 | 2,580 | – | RM165 | 3,645 |
| 37 | Penolong Pegawai Perubatan Gred U9 guide | 2,580 | – | RM165 | 3,645 |
| 38 | Pegawai Psikologi Gred S9 guide | 2,470 | 3,350 | – | 3,370 |
| 39 | Juruaudit Gred W9 guide | 2,470 | 3,240 | – | 3,370 |
| 40 | Kurator Gred S9 | 2,470 | 3,020 | – | 3,370 |
| 41 | Perangkawan Gred E9 | 2,470 | 3,020 | – | 3,370 |
| 42 | Pustakawan Gred S9 | 2,470 | 3,020 | – | 3,370 |
| 43 | Pegawai Perikanan Gred G9 | 2,470 | 2,800 | RM165 | 3,535 |
| 44 | Pegawai Latihan Vokasional Gred DV9 | 2,470 | 2,690 | RM165 | 3,535 |
| 45 | Guru Bahasa Gred DG9 | 2,470 | – | – | 3,370 |
| 46 | Pegawai Arkib Gred S9 | 2,470 | – | – | 3,370 |
| 47 | Pegawai Perkhidmatan Pendidikan Gred DG9 guide | 2,360 | 3,460 | RM165 | 3,425 |
| 48 | Pegawai Latihan Gred E9 | 2,250 | 3,240 | – | 3,150 |
| 49 | Penguasa Kastam Gred WK9 | 2,250 | 3,240 | – | 3,150 |
| 50 | Pegawai Ehwal Ekonomi Gred E9 | 2,250 | 3,130 | RM165 | 3,315 |
| 51 | Pegawai Perhubungan Perusahaan Gred S9 | 2,250 | 3,020 | – | 3,150 |
| 52 | Pegawai Penguat Kuasa Gred KP9 | 2,250 | 2,910 | – | 3,150 |
| 53 | Penguasa Bomba Gred KB9 | 2,250 | 2,910 | – | 3,150 |
| 54 | Pegawai Hidupan Liar Gred G9 | 2,250 | 2,580 | – | 3,150 |
| 55 | Pegawai Pendaftaran Gred KP9 | 2,250 | 2,580 | – | 3,150 |
| 56 | Penguasa Imigresen Gred KP9 | 2,250 | 2,580 | – | 3,150 |
| 57 | Pegawai Antidadah Gred S9 | 2,250 | 2,470 | – | 3,150 |
| 58 | Pegawai Belia dan Sukan Gred S9 | 2,250 | 2,470 | – | 3,150 |
| 59 | Pegawai Hal Ehwal Islam Gred S9 | 2,250 | 2,470 | – | 3,150 |
| 60 | Pegawai Keselamatan Gred KP9 | 2,250 | 2,470 | – | 3,150 |
| 61 | Pegawai Pembangunan Masyarakat Gred S9 | 2,250 | 2,470 | – | 3,150 |
| 62 | Pegawai Penerangan Gred S9 | 2,250 | 2,470 | – | 3,150 |
| 63 | Pegawai Pertahanan Awam Gred KP9 | 2,250 | 2,470 | – | 3,150 |
| 64 | Pegawai Tadbir Gred N9 | 2,250 | 2,470 | – | 3,150 |
| 65 | Penguasa Penjara Gred KA9 | 2,250 | 2,470 | – | 3,150 |
| 66 | Penguasa Sempadan Gred KS9 | 2,250 | 2,470 | – | 3,150 |
The medical officer scheme (Pegawai Perubatan UD9) starts highest at RM3,130, followed by accountants (WA9) and dental officers (UG9) at RM3,020, then architects, pharmacists and veterinary officers at RM2,910. Engineers, quantity surveyors, town planners and the other J9 technical schemes start at RM2,690.
The largest group, 22 schemes, starts at RM2,580. It includes the administrative and diplomatic officer (M9), IT officer (F9), legal officer (L9), research officer (Q9), the science and health officer schemes and the U9 allied health schemes. Nineteen schemes start at RM2,250, the minimum of the grade, among them the information officer, youth and sports officer, enforcement officer and the uniformed superintendent schemes.
Where a scheme lists more than one rate, the higher rates go with a named qualification. The auditor scheme (W9) starts at RM2,470 with an honours degree in any field, RM3,020 with an accounting degree, and RM3,240 for full members of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants. Education officers (DG9) run from RM2,360 to RM3,460 depending on degree and teaching qualification, and the marine officer scheme (AL9) also reaches RM3,460. The highest listed rate for the M9, F9, S9 and Q9 schemes is RM3,350.
Which schemes get the critical service incentive?
The Bayaran Insentif Perkhidmatan Kritikal (BIPK) is paid to new appointees in schemes the government lists as critical. Among the 66 degree-entry schemes at grade 9, 19 receive it:
- RM750 a month: Pegawai Farmasi Gred UF9, Pegawai Pergigian Gred UG9, Pegawai Perubatan Gred UD9.
- RM165 a month: Arkitek Gred J9, Arkitek Landskap Gred J9, Jururawat Gred U9, Jurutera Gred J9, Juruukur Bahan Gred J9, Pegawai Ehwal Ekonomi Gred E9, Pegawai Latihan Vokasional Gred DV9, Pegawai Laut Gred AL9, Pegawai Penyelidik Gred Q9, Pegawai Perikanan Gred G9, Pegawai Perkhidmatan Pendidikan Gred DG9, Pegawai Pertanian Gred G9, Pegawai Undang-undang Gred L9, Pemeriksa Kilang dan Jentera Gred J9, Pengajar Gred U9, Penolong Pegawai Perubatan Gred U9.
Medical, dental and pharmacy officers receive the fixed RM750 rate. The others receive RM165, the rate for new appointees in grades 9 to 15. The incentive is paid while the officer does the scheme's core duties with the required qualification, and not during administrative, human resource, public relations or counter postings. Officers appointed before the SSPA took effect keep the amounts they were already receiving.
With BIPK, a new medical officer's fixed pay in Kawasan A is RM4,780, a dental officer's RM4,670 and a pharmacist's RM4,560. An architect's is RM3,975 and an engineer's RM3,755.
What the Kuala Lumpur figure adds
| Allowance | What it is | Kawasan A | Kawasan B | Elsewhere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing allowance | Imbuhan Tetap Perumahan (ITP), grade 9 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Public service allowance | Imbuhan Tetap Khidmat Awam (ITKA), grade 9 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Cost-of-living allowance | Bayaran Imbuhan Sara Hidup (BISH), by area | 300 | 250 | 150 |
| Fixed allowances, non-critical scheme | ITP + ITKA + BISH | 900 | 850 | 750 |
| Critical service incentive | Bayaran Insentif Perkhidmatan Kritikal (BIPK), new appointee in a critical scheme; RM750 for medical, dental and pharmacy officers | 165 | 165 | 165 |
For a non-critical scheme the fixed allowances at grade 9 come to RM900 a month in Kawasan A, RM850 in Kawasan B and RM750 elsewhere. The with-allowances column in the ranked table is the starting basic salary plus RM900, plus BIPK where it applies. A scheme starting at RM2,580 therefore pays RM3,480 a month in Kuala Lumpur before deductions, and a scheme starting at the grade minimum of RM2,250 pays RM3,150.
Over a year, the lowest Kawasan A figure comes to RM37,800 and the medical officer's to RM57,360, before any shift, on-call or overtime pay and before deductions. The take-home pay calculator works out EPF, SOCSO, EIS and income tax from a monthly figure.
How the SSPA scale moves after appointment
| Grade | Minimum | Maximum | Yearly increment | Increments from minimum to maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 2,250 | 11,110 | 225 | 39 |
| 10 | 3,840 | 12,150 | 250 | 33 |
| 11 | 3,320 | 12,760 | 255 | 37 |
| 12 | 5,530 | 13,540 | 270 | 30 |
| 13 | 6,210 | 14,370 | 290 | 28 |
| 14 | 6,560 | 15,360 | 320 | 28 |
| 15 | 7,030 | 16,350 | 400 | 23 |
Grade 9 runs from RM2,250 to RM11,110 with a yearly increment of RM225. An officer starting at RM2,580 who stays on grade 9 reaches the maximum after about 38 increments. Promotion moves an officer to the next grade's range: grade 10 starts at RM3,840 and rises RM250 a year, grade 12 at RM5,530 and RM270 a year, and grade 14 at RM6,560 and RM320 a year. Grade 15, the top of the professional range, runs from RM7,030 to RM16,350 with a RM400 increment.
The scale is the same for every scheme in the general federal service, so two officers on the same grade with the same years of service earn the same basic salary whatever their scheme. The differences at the start come from the entry point, the allowances and BIPK.
What is not in the figure
- Shift, on-call and overtime pay are not included. Doctors, nurses, allied health officers and enforcement officers can receive these on top of the fixed figure.
- Area matters. BISH is RM300 only in Kawasan A. In Kawasan B (other city councils) the fixed allowances total RM850 and elsewhere RM750, so the with-allowances column falls by RM50 or RM150 outside the main cities.
- BIPK is conditional. It is paid for core duties in a critical scheme and stops during postings outside them.
- Deductions are not taken off. The figures are gross monthly pay before EPF or pension contributions, SOCSO, EIS and income tax.
- Diploma and SPM entry are not covered. The same schemes often have grade 5 (diploma) and grade 1 (SPM) entry points with their own starting pay.
- Schemes with no published starting pay are not listed. A small number of uniformed and investigation schemes give no figure on their SPA page.
- Private-sector pay is not comparable. DOSM does not publish salaries by job title, so the government figure is a pay point, not a market median. The Malaysia salary page has the DOSM medians by state, sector and skill level.
Related guides
Sources
SPA scheme pages, Ministry of Finance Budget 2026, JPA SSPA circular
- Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam, Syarat Permohonan (service scheme pages) Starting basic pay (gaji permulaan) by qualification for each scheme; degree-entry pages fetched 17 October 2026.
- Ministry of Finance, Budget 2026 establishment list, Lampiran A SSPA salary codes and minimum-maximum salaries by grade, page A-1.
- JPA, Pekeliling Perkhidmatan Bil. 1/2024 (SSPA), Lampiran E ITP (Jadual E4-U91), ITKA (E4-U90), BISH by area (E4-U4) and BIPK (E4-U43); rates effective 1 December 2024 and unchanged in 2026.