Average hourly earnings of employees in Malaysia

Malaysia: Average hourly earnings of employees was 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
23rd
of 64 countries
All-time high
10.54 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2019
All-time low
5.86 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2011
Years of data
10
2011–2020

Average hourly earnings of employees in Malaysia, 2011–2020

02.557.5102011201520202011: 5.9 international-$ in 2021 prices2012: 6.5 international-$ in 2021 prices2013: 6.7 international-$ in 2021 prices2014: 7.2 international-$ in 2021 prices2015: 7.5 international-$ in 2021 prices2016: 8.7 international-$ in 2021 prices2017: 9 international-$ in 2021 prices2018: 9.8 international-$ in 2021 prices2019: 10.5 international-$ in 2021 prices2020: 10.2 international-$ in 2021 prices

Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.

Analysis

In 2020, average hourly earnings of employees in Malaysia stood at 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and up 73.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, average hourly earnings of employees in Malaysia peaked at 10.54 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2019 and was at its lowest, 5.86 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2011.

Malaysia ranks 23rd of 64 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 7.99 international-$ in 2021 prices 5.86 international-$ in 2021 prices 10.54 international-$ in 2021 prices 9
2020s 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices 1

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 20 Uruguay 10.52 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  2. 21 Mauritius 10.46 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  3. 22 Panama 10.32 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  4. 24 Bolivia 10.14 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  5. 25 Costa Rica 9.73 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  6. 26 Greece 9.62 international-$ in 2021 prices compare

See the full ranking of 64 places →

More reference data data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is average hourly earnings of employees in Malaysia?
Average hourly earnings of employees in Malaysia was 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 10.54 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2019.
What is the lowest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 5.86 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2011.
How does Malaysia rank for average hourly earnings of employees?
Malaysia ranks 23rd out of 64 countries with data for 2020.
Is average hourly earnings of employees rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is up 73.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Malaysia data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average hourly earnings of employees. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Average hourly earnings of employees
Unit
international-$ in 2021 prices
Source
International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
64 places, 923 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

Gross remuneration for time worked or work done, vacation, and other types of paid leave.