Lucrative jobs in Malaysia

A survey done by a recruitment agency, a popular employment services company in Malaysia, had the following results:

Top five highest paying Fresh Graduates positions

Industry	Specialization	Average Salary (50% percentile)
Semiconductor/Wafer Fabrication	Bachelor’s Degree/Professional Degree/Post Graduate Diploma in Engineering	RM 2400
Banking	Bachelor’s Degree/Professional Degree/Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science/Information Technology	RM 2100
Manufacturing	Bachelor’s Degree/Professional Degree/Post Graduate Diploma in Engineering	RM 2089
Science & Technology/Aerospace/Biotechnology	Bachelor’s Degree/Professional Degree/Post Graduate Diploma in Engineering	RM 2050
Electrical & Electronic	Bachelor’s Degree/Professional Degree/Post Graduate Diploma in Sciences	RM 2050

Please be reminded that, these figures denote an average. Variations will occur depending on the size of the company, job demands and other perks that are packaged into the pay.

You should be made aware that, these are the figures you should be quoting for when applying for the job. I have seen job applications from fresh graduate demanding, and I mean demanding 50% to 100% more than the figures above. Either they think too highly of themselves, or ignorant of current market value. However, just in case you are interested to know, where your job is leading towards, in terms of pay, the agency also provided the following results:

Top five highest paying Senior Management positions

Industry	Specialization	Average Salary (50% percentile)
Manufacturing	IT/Computers	RM10390
Services	IT/Computers	RM 9950
Oil/Gas/Petroleum	Marketing and Business Development	RM9604
Telecommunication	Non-Technical Sales	RM9500
Financial Services/Securities/Insurance	Human Resources /Administration/Personnel	RM9345

As a comparison, how do we stand up against the Americans.

The best-paying jobs in America

Occupation Annual salary (USD) Avg. hours per week Surgeons $189,590 63 Anesthesiologists $181,420 60 Obstetricians, gynecologists $179,640 57 Internists, general $158,350 60 Pediatricians, general $142,360 53 Family, general practitioners $136,260 54 Psychiatrists $135,220 46 CEOs $134,960 Varies greatly Dentists $133,350 37.6

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

You will notice that the surveys done in Malaysia does not cover the medical profession. Rightly so! The medical profession is a highly specialized profession with requiring special aptitude and capabilities. Many do not have them. I am one of them.

Yes, it would be nice to have that extra money. Who wouldn’t? Furthermore, why would I be going into a job that hardly pays?

True, we all could use that extra cash to help us in our daily and monthly expenses, like paying for the house, car, bills and other expenses. Including some luxury indulgence every now and then, like traveling overseas.

Try not to choose a job solely on how much money it makes.

Remember the saying “money can’t buy love or happiness”? Well, the reason the saying has been around for a long time is because it is true.

The point I would like to make is, and it has been in my previous 2 – 3 articles that, “If you like what you do, you end up doing it very well, you get noticed, and you will eventually get paid”.

As mentioned earlier, you need to have the right attitude to get into a specific profession. Like a doctor. Or if you are not good in mathematics, like me, you might want to stay away from becoming an engineer, architect, physicist and etc.

Or if language is not your thing or you do not have the gift of the speech, maybe you should not try to become a TV newscast, a TV host or a radio DJ. I am not saying don’t go for it. You can. Maybe you need extra help and training to get you there. But, be aware of what your strengths and weaknesses are.

Take a simple test. If I ask you to write or tell me something you are interested in, what topic or area that you can go on writing or speaking effortlessly, passionately and with a glow on your face that others reading or listening to you can tell you are really into it?

Think about it, shouldn’t you be doing the thing you love. You are going to spend an enormous amount of time, between 8 – 10 hours a day, 5 – 6 days a week (sometimes more) doing this job you are in. If you can find a job that has some promise of a career path, it pays well AND you love doing it, well go for it.

But if not, consider carefully the decision you have to make because the best-paid jobs are those that pay off not only in money, but also in satisfaction and happiness.