Digital talent salaries in Malaysia set to surge amid rising AI and tech investment

SALARIES for digital professionals in Malaysia are projected to rise by 10.81 per cent in 2026, driven by increased industry investment in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data-driven systems.

Woon Tai Hai, Chairman of the Research Committee at the National Technology Association of Malaysia (PIKOM), attributed the expected wage growth to employers’ intensified efforts to attract highly skilled technology talent.

He noted that advertised salaries for digital roles are already expected to increase by 9.5 per cent in 2025.

"I believe our digital economy has not yet reached that stage. In fact, we have not peaked like Western countries, for example the United States, and even China," Woon said.

"So, we need to offer sufficiently attractive salaries to draw talent. Not just from Malaysia, we also want to attract expatriates, particularly from neighbouring countries.

“Rather than losing talent, we aim to bring in foreign workers. So, we think 9.5 per cent is quite satisfactory."

He made the remarks during a press conference following the presentation of The Economic and Digital Job Market Outlook 2025 in the capital today.

Woon highlighted that overall wage adjustments, including the country’s increase of the minimum wage to RM1,700, are prompting companies to restructure internal pay scales to maintain job parity.

He also stressed the importance of balancing technology adoption with value creation. "The nation cannot focus solely on technology usage, but must encourage value creation.

“For example, investment in data centres may be significant, but the real value depends on whether it enhances local talent and productivity or merely consumes energy," he explained.

Woon further emphasised the critical role of universities in preparing graduates for industry demands, particularly in AI applications, to reduce skill mismatches in the workforce. - December 4, 2025