Malaysia Design Landscape: Preliminary gross salary findings
Around 2 weeks ago, I started the Malaysia Design Landscape study and launched a survey to collect data to inform the community and industry on the opportunity, education background, biasses, and industry adoption.
Naturally, one of the factors that pull talent into an industry is the financial benefits. I was curious to paint this picture with the data I have collected to date.
As I was through the date at response.malaysiadesignlandscape.com and analyzing the data, I wondered if it is financially rewarding to choose the experience design career path in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
40% of the #MalaysiaDesignLandscape 2020 survey participants’ salary ranged between MYR 3170 to MYR 7099 per month.
According to the Malaysia Household & Basic Amenities report 2019 — they fall between the B40 B3 and M40 M2 segments, respectively. The results will evolve as the sample size grows throughout the weeks.
Is that range of monthly gross salary good or bad?
Looking at the data at face value indicates a healthy range of gross income for the industry, then I wondered, “What is the cost of living in Malaysia, and does it translate well?”, “What is the level of comfort can one get by being in this income bracket?”.
Looking at the data collected by NUMBEO.COM on the cost of living in Kuala Lumpur:
- A single person monthly costs: RM 2,125.32 without rent.
- Four-person family monthly costs: RM 7,588.08 without rent
Well, that doesn’t look as bad as I would imagine it be in the first place.
The answer is, it depends on your household.
If you are single and living with your parents, at the lowest tier of the B40 B3 category monthly salary range from RM 3170.00 — RM 3969.00, you will have spare change at the end of the month.
Next, if you have a family of 4 and earning at the mid-tier of the M40, mid-low to mid-mid monthly salary ranges from RM 4850.00 — RM 7099.00. You will be in a bit of a pinch every month. What does the data from the survey say?
When filtered with Married and 2 Children, the results show a change in the household income bracket.
The floor gross salary shows M40 M1 gross salary range from RM4,850 and registers a ceiling within the T20 floor of RM10,960.00. With 27% falling in the bracket of B40 B4 RM5,880.00 -RM7,099.00.
I want to point out that the survey did not capture whether the household is of single or dual income. But viewing it with the lens of the industry — there is room for improvement.
I am keen to hear what you think of the results and share any feedback to improve the findings of this study.
The survey needs more participants, help me grow the sample size.
These results and views shared here are preliminary. I am practicing “share early, share often” to help me reach more audiences and inform them in their decision-making process of hiring or starting in the experience design industry.
I have also made the data collected available for viewing. I hid a couple of columns to further anonymized the participants. You may view the responses by visiting response.malaysiadesignlandscape.com and go through the raw data.
Please share the link MalaysiaDesignLandscape.com through your social media network and grow the sample size to better depict it.🤗
The story was orginaly published on my linkedin
