Fresh graduate salary in Malaysia: what new graduates earn
Checked by Gabriela Ruiz, financial analyst, against the official sources
The median monthly salary of employed graduates aged 24 and under was RM2,031 in 2024, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) Graduates Statistics 2024, released on 31 October 2025. The mean was RM2,456. At 25 to 34 the median rises to RM3,505.
In DOSM's definition a graduate holds a diploma or degree from a university, college, polytechnic or equivalent after at least two years of study. Young graduates also face a hard start: 16.7% of graduates aged 24 and under who were in the labour force were unemployed, and 66% of those working were in jobs below their skill level.
Graduate salary by age
Pay rises steadily with age: from RM2,031 at 24 and under to RM3,505 at 25 to 34 and RM5,522 at 35 to 44. The median for all employed graduates is RM4,521.
| Age group | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| 24 and under | RM2,031 | RM2,456 |
| 25 to 34 | RM3,505 | RM4,126 |
| 35 to 44 | RM5,522 | RM5,970 |
| 45 and over | RM7,191 | RM7,660 |
Degree vs diploma
Across all ages, the median for degree holders is RM5,724 and for diploma holders RM3,390. DOSM does not split the 24-and-under pay figure by qualification, so these medians include experienced graduates.
| Certificate | All | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree | RM5,724 | RM5,910 | RM5,227 |
| Diploma | RM3,390 | RM3,590 | RM3,182 |
| All graduates | RM4,521 | RM5,206 | RM4,508 |
Job match: skilled, semi-skilled and low-skilled work
Graduates in skilled jobs earn a median of RM5,723, against RM2,550 in semi-skilled and RM1,990 in low-skilled jobs. Skill-related underemployment, meaning working in a job that needs less than your qualification, is highest at the start: 51.3% of employed degree holders aged 24 and under and 73.1% of diploma holders that age.
| Group | Unemployment rate, 24 and under | Unemployment rate, 25 to 34 | Skill-related underemployment, 24 and under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree | 20.5% | 4.6% | 51.3% |
| Diploma | 14.8% | 2.7% | 73.1% |
| All graduates | 16.7% | 3.8% | 66% |
Graduate salary by state and sector
W.P. Kuala Lumpur has the highest graduate median (RM5,888) and Kedah the lowest (RM3,616). By sector, graduates in services earn a median of RM5,206 and in manufacturing RM3,766. These figures cover graduates of all ages.
| State | Median |
|---|---|
| W.P. Kuala Lumpur | RM5,888 |
| W.P. Putrajaya | RM5,723 |
| Selangor | RM5,207 |
| Pahang | RM4,769 |
| Perlis | RM4,636 |
| Pulau Pinang | RM4,581 |
| Sarawak | RM4,508 |
| Johor | RM4,367 |
| Sabah | RM4,319 |
| Perak | RM4,262 |
| Negeri Sembilan | RM4,236 |
| Melaka | RM4,202 |
| Kelantan | RM4,132 |
| W.P. Labuan | RM4,105 |
| Terengganu | RM3,958 |
| Kedah | RM3,616 |
Civil service entry grades
In the public service, degree-entry posts start at Gred 9 under SSPA, whose salary range is RM2,250 to RM11,110; diploma-entry posts start at Gred 5 (RM1,650 to RM6,620) and SPM-entry posts at Gred 1 (RM1,500 to RM4,680). The bottom of a range is not the same as a scheme's starting salary, and allowances are extra. See the SSPA salary table.
What a starting salary leaves you with
The legal floor is the minimum wage of RM1,700 a month (see minimum wage). The table shows take-home pay after EPF, SOCSO, EIS and PCB for a single employee under 60, from the same rules as our salary calculator. A RM2,500 offer is above the RM2,031 median for graduates 24 and under.
| Gross a month | Take-home a month |
|---|---|
| RM1,700 | RM 1,501.45 |
| RM2,031 | RM 1,791.65 |
| RM2,500 | RM 2,207.85 |
| RM3,000 | RM 2,649.35 |
| RM3,505 | RM 3,092.15 |
How DOSM measures graduate pay
The graduate statistics combine the Labour Force Survey, the Salaries & Wages Survey, Higher Education Statistics and the Ministry of Higher Education's Graduate Tracer Study. Salaries and wages are the monthly pay of employed graduates in their main job: basic pay, cost-of-living and other regular allowances and overtime. Bonuses are not included. For pay across all employees, see average salary in Malaysia.
Sources
- DOSM, Graduates Statistics 2024 (tables 3a, 6j, 10a to 10n), read 2026-11-06
- JPA, Lampiran D1: Jadual Gaji Minimum-Maksimum SSPA, read 2026-11-06
Questions
What is the average fresh graduate salary in Malaysia?
DOSM puts the median at RM2,031 and the mean at RM2,456 a month for employed graduates aged 24 and under (2024).
What is the starting salary for a degree holder in Malaysia?
DOSM does not publish a degree-only figure for new graduates. Across all ages the degree median is RM5,724, and graduates aged 24 and under have a median of RM2,031. In the civil service, degree entry is Gred 9 (range RM2,250 to RM11,110).
What is the salary for a diploma holder?
The median for diploma holders of all ages is RM3,390 (2024). Civil service diploma entry is Gred 5 (range RM1,650 to RM6,620).
Is RM2,500 a good salary for a fresh graduate?
It is above the RM2,031 median for employed graduates aged 24 and under. After EPF, SOCSO, EIS and PCB a single employee takes home about RM 2,207.85.
What is the unemployment rate for fresh graduates in Malaysia?
16.7% for graduates aged 24 and under in 2024: 20.5% for degree holders and 14.8% for diploma holders.
Can a fresh graduate be paid less than RM1,700?
Not for a full-time employee covered by the minimum wage: it is RM1,700 a month. See the minimum wage page for the hourly and daily rates and the change announced for 2027.