The median monthly wage of Malaysian citizens in formal employment rose 4.8% year on year to RM3,000 in June 2026, from RM2,864 in June 2025, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said on 27 October.
RM3,000Median monthly wageJune 2026, up 4.8% from RM2,864
7.20 millionFormal employeesJune 2026, up 3.3% from 6.97 million
8.2%Earning below RM1,700June 2026, from 10.4% in June 2025
Source: DOSM, Employee Wages Statistics (Formal Sector) Report, Second Quarter 2026, released 27 October 2026.
Main points
- The number of Malaysian formal employees rose 3.3% to 7.20 million, from 6.97 million.
- The median was RM3,000 in April, RM2,964 in May and RM3,000 in June 2026.
- DOSM said the formal labour market stayed stable and resilient in the second quarter.
What the June median means for your pay
If you are an employee
- DOSM counts bonuses, commissions and allowances in wages, and the median is the middle value. Compare your pay with the salary comparison tool.
- The top 10% earned at least RM9,600 a month, and the bottom 10% earned RM1,700 or less.
- Check an offer against your industry on the salary by industry page.
If you are an employer
- Medians in June 2026 ran from RM2,282 in agriculture to RM6,722 in mining and quarrying.
- State medians ran from RM1,827 in Kelantan to RM4,245 in Kuala Lumpur.
- Compare two offers after EPF, SOCSO and tax with the offer comparison tool.
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Formal sector pay ranged from RM2,282 in agriculture to RM6,722 in mining
Median monthly wage by economic sector, June 2026
| Sector | Share of formal employees | Median monthly wage |
|---|---|---|
| Services | 68.1% | RM3,000 |
| Manufacturing | 17.7% | RM2,782 |
| Construction | 6.2% | RM3,000 |
| Agriculture | 1.8% | RM2,282 |
| Mining and quarrying | 0.5% | RM6,722 |
- Year on year, services rose 3.4%, manufacturing 3.0%, agriculture 3.7% and construction 1.9%.
- Within services, finance and insurance had the highest median at RM6,400, followed by information and communication at RM5,500. Food and beverages and accommodation had the lowest at RM2,064.
Median monthly wage by state and sex
- Kuala Lumpur had the highest state median at RM4,245 in June 2026, up 4.5% year on year. Selangor followed at RM3,245 and Pulau Pinang at RM3,000.
- The lowest were Kelantan at RM1,827, Perlis at RM1,864 and Sabah at RM2,045.
- Men earned a median of RM3,000 and women RM2,964.
- Men were 55.1% of formal employees (3.97 million) and women 44.9% (3.23 million).
Where pay sits from the 10th to the 90th percentile
| Percentile | June 2025 | June 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | RM1,664 | RM1,700 |
| 20th | RM1,745 | RM1,800 |
| 30th | RM2,000 | RM2,045 |
| 40th | RM2,382 | RM2,464 |
| 50th (median) | RM2,864 | RM3,000 |
| 60th | RM3,482 | RM3,564 |
| 70th | RM4,327 | RM4,500 |
| 80th | RM5,800 | RM6,000 |
| 90th | RM9,200 | RM9,600 |
Foundific calculations: the median rose RM136 a month (RM3,000 minus RM2,864), and the male median was RM36 above the female median (RM3,000 minus RM2,964). DOSM reported the 90th percentile 4.3% higher than a year earlier and 5.6 times the 10th.
Of formal employees, 9.5% earned RM10,000 or more a month in June 2026.
What the wage release does not cover
- It covers Malaysian citizens only, based on administrative data from agencies such as the EPF and SOCSO. Own-account workers, unpaid family workers and other non-standard employment are not included.
- It gives wages in ringgit as paid. The release reports no inflation-adjusted figures.
- DOSM's headline change is year on year (4.8% in April, 4.2% in May and 4.8% in June 2026).
Where to follow wages next
- Read the yearly pay series on wage growth in Malaysia.
- Compare industries on salary by industry.
- Check your own pay with the salary comparison tool and the take-home pay calculator.
- Check DOSM's release calendar for the date of the third-quarter 2026 report.
Related guides
Sources
DOSM, Employee Wages Statistics (Formal Sector) Report, Second Quarter 2026
- DOSM, Employee Wages Statistics (Formal Sector), Second Quarter 2026 Released 27 October 2026. Media statement, infographic and full report kept in data/my/dosm/raw.
