The average monthly salary of an ICT professional is expected to rise to RM9,000 a month, from RM8,484 in 2016.

In 2015, the average monthly salary was RM8,114, according to a humanresourcesonline report.

Quoting from Pikom’s ICT Job Market Outlook In Malaysia 2017 Report humanresourcesonline said the increase to RM9,000 was twice the average monthly salary in 2007. Pikom is the national ICT association of Malaysia.

It projected that senior and mid-level managers would get the highest projected salary increase in 2017 at 6.9% and 7.6% respectively.

The highest paying sectors for ICT professionals in 2016 included the automotive/heavy industry/machinery industries, with an average monthly salary of RM8,952.

This was followed by call centre/IT enabled services/BPO industries at RM8,822; transport/storage/ freight/shipping industries at RM8,791; science and technology/aerospace /biotechnology industries at RM8,760; and computer/IT (hardware) industries at RM8,397.

However, the report noted a widening salary gap between entry level professionals and professionals in the four other categories – especially the senior manager category.

Also, the Pikom report noted that jobs for ICT professionals dropped by 40% in 2016. There were 11,227 job openings in 2016, compared with 18,249 jobs in 2015.

This was attributed to the poorer economic situation last year.

The Pikom report said the total ICT value in Malaysia was estimated to be about RM164 billion in 2016, based on the average annual growth rate of 7.6% for the period 2010-2015.

Pikom chairman Chin Chee Seong was quoted by humanresourcesonline as saying that ICT developments, including the launch of the digital free trade zone, would have significant impact on the growth and success of the industry.