Kuala Lumpur, 2025 – Malaysia recorded a substantial increase in salary scales for digital professionals in 2025 as employers intensified efforts to secure advanced technology talent. The 2025 edition of The Economic and Digital Job Market Outlook, published annually by the National Tech Association of Malaysia (PIKOM), reports that advertised salaries for digital roles expanded by a projected 9.50% in 2025.
Salary growth is expected to strengthen further in 2026 with a forecast expansion of 10.81%, supported by deeper industry investment in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity and data-driven systems.
PIKOM Chairman Alex Liew said the salary surge in 2025 highlights the strategic importance of digital professionals across Malaysian industries.
“Digital talent is now central to business growth and competitiveness. Employers raised salary offers throughout 2025 as they sought expertise in AI, data science, cybersecurity and cloud engineering.
The upward trend is set to continue into 2026 as businesses undertake more advanced digital transformation initiatives,” he said.
The report finds that the rapid adoption of AI-based tools, cloud infrastructure and data-driven operations encouraged employers to recalibrate compensation structures and offer more competitive packages, particularly for roles requiring specialised capabilities.
Structural and Market Forces Shaping Salary Growth
Broader wage adjustments also contributed to the upward movement. The increase in the national minimum wage to RM1,700 encouraged companies to revise internal salary frameworks to maintain structural parity.
In addition, shortage of digital talent continued to drive wage pressures. Demand continued to outpace supply as organisations accelerated their investments in:
- Digital platform development
- AI and intelligent automation
- Cloud and data engineering
- Cybersecurity architecture
The persistent outflow of Malaysian digital talent to regional markets such as Singapore added further pressure on employers to strengthen remuneration packages and retain experienced professionals.
Industry developments reinforced these trends. Increased investment by global technology firms in cloud and AI infrastructure in Malaysia created additional demand for niche technical skills.
Professionals capable of managing intelligent automation, safeguarding digital assets and maintaining cloud-native environments commanded salary premiums, with these competencies expected to influence salary expansion in 2026.
PIKOM Research Committee Chair Woon Tai Hai said Malaysia made notable progress in narrowing regional salary gaps in 2025.
“Malaysia still trails several economies in digital salary competitiveness, but 2025 showed meaningful improvement.
Stronger technology adoption is lifting salary levels and strengthening talent depth. Continued focus on developing specialised digital skills will help Malaysia move closer to regional benchmarks in 2026,” he said.
Digital Economy Momentum Continues
Malaysia’s digital economy continued to gain momentum in 2025 and is projected to contribute about 25% of national GDP by early 2026, driven by ICT services, eCommerce and increasing digital trade flows.
The Economic and Digital Job Market Outlook 2025 is published in collaboration with JobStreet by SEEK, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp).
