The base salaries of HR professionals in Malaysia in 2019

The latest Michael Page Malaysia Salary Benchmark 2019 has revealed the expected base salaries of HR professionals this year.

These numbers are broken down according to specific sectors: financial services, healthcare and pharmaceutical, services and technology and telecommunications, and include the average salary increase when professionals switch jobs of similar functions.

Financial services

This sector has seen a 5% increase in the number of jobs posted in the last 12 months. Professionals can expect an average salary increase of 18 to 23% when switching jobs of similar industries.

The three HR roles with the highest minimum, maximum and average base salary range for 12 months are:

Recruitment head/ talent acquisition head Minimum: RM144,000 Maximum: RM240,000 Average: RM192,000

Head of talent management Minimum: RM204,000 Maximum: RM360,000 Average: RM282,000

CHRO/HR director Minimum: RM400,000 Maximum: RM840,000 Average: RM620,000

Healthcare and pharmaceutical

This sector saw an 18% increase in job postings in the last 12 months, with top roles in demand including the HR manager. An average of 18% to 23% increase in salary can be expected for professionals switching jobs of similar industries.

The report broke up HR professionals in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector into three functions: compensation and benefits, learning and development, and general HR.

For compensation and benefits, the base salaries for 12 months for the two roles listed are:

Compensation and benefits specialist Minimum: RM60,000 Maximum: RM120,000 Average: RM90,000

Head of compensation and benefits Minimum: RM180,ooo Maximum: RM320,000 Average: RM250,000

In the learning and development function, the base salaries for the two roles roles listed are:

Learning and development specialist Minimum: RM48.000 Maximum: RM120,000 Average: RM84,000

Head of learning and development Minimum: RM120,000 Maximum: RM240,000 Average: RM180,000

For general HR, the three roles with the highest base salaries are:

Recruitment head/ talent acquisition head Minimum: RM120,000 Maximum: RM240,000 Average: RM180,000

Head of organisational development Minimum: RM180,000 Maximum: RM300,000 Average: RM240,000

Head of talent management Minimum: RM180,000 Maximum: RM300,000 Average: RM240,000

CHRO/HR director Minimum: RM240,000 Maximum: RM400,000 Average: RM320,000

ALSO READ: The top 3 hiring trends for HR professionals in 2019

Manufacturing and industrial

There was a 15% increase in job postings in this sector in the past year, and professionals can expect a 10-15% average salary increase when switching jobs of similar functions.

Similar to the previous sector, the HR function is broken up into compensation and benefits, learning and development, and general HR for which the base salaries are as follows:

In the compensation and benefits function, the roles listed are:

Compensation and benefits specialist Minimum: RM60,000 Maximum: RM96,000 Average: RM78,000

Head of compensation and benefits Minimum: RM144,ooo Maximum: RM240,000 Average: RM192,000

The base salaries for both roles in the learning and development function are:

Learning and development specialist Minimum: RM48.000 Maximum: RM96,000 Average: RM72,000

Head of learning and development Minimum: RM108,000 Maximum: RM240,000 Average: RM174,000

Lastly, the three top general HR roles will receive the following base salaries for 12 months in 2019:

HR business partner (senior) Minimum: RM144,000 Maximum: RM260,000 Average: RM202,000

Head of organisational development Minimum: RM160,000 Maximum: RM250,000 Average: RM205,000

CHRO/HR director Minimum: RM210,000 Maximum: RM480,000 Average: RM345,000

Photos / Michael Page