Many business professionals are incentivised to advance in their careers with the promise of lucrative salary packages. Not only do high-paying roles ensure financial security, but they also grant these professionals more autonomy and influence to contribute to their businesses’ success.
If you are seeking a business role with a high salary, you should consider various factors that could contribute to the pay. These include the level of the role, the industry you work in, your geographic location, your academic and professional qualifications, and your work experience.
To help you understand and navigate the job market better, we discuss some of Malaysia’s highest-paying jobs in business in 2025. We also examine what measures can be taken to upgrade your salary prospects as a business professional.
Highest-paying jobs in business in 2025
While many of the highest-paying jobs in business involve C-suite roles, other careers also offer lucrative salaries. Discover what these roles are in the list below.
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
A CEO is the top decision maker responsible for the overall management and business direction of an organisation. They work with other leadership executives to create effective corporate strategies to promote business growth.
The path to becoming a CEO involves extensive industrial experience in various leadership roles. CEOs usually have an academic background in business-related fields, such as business administration, business and management. Many of them also pursue advanced qualifications, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA), to develop the skills needed to lead a business.
The scale of influence and responsibilities carried by CEOs make them the highest-paid business professionals. Based on the roles advertised on Indeed, the median monthly salary for a CEO is RM27,500. Their remuneration package may also include other benefits such as stock options and performance bonuses.
There is also a positive job outlook for CEOs in Malaysia, with a reported career growth of 16.7 per cent in the last year. - Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
As the top financial executive of an organisation, the CFO manages various financial functions to take care of the business’s overall financial health. Their responsibilities may include identifying investment opportunities, supervising the preparation of financial documents and budgets, and enhancing productivity in finance and accounting teams.
CFOs typically have extensive financial management experience and an academic background in finance, accounting, economics or other related areas at the bachelor’s and master’s level. Some employers may require them to have professional qualifications from specific organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA). These qualifications can be obtained by having relevant work experience and passing their examinations.
The financial duties of a CFO are often compensated with a lucrative remuneration package. Jobstreet reports that the average monthly salary of a CFO is RM17,000. - Vice president
Vice presidents play an important leadership role in an organisation. They perform various tasks to support other senior managers, which may involve supervising department leaders, discussing company performance with the board of directors and representing the company in public events.
To become a vice president, you should pursue a bachelor’s degree in business, management, finance or another industry-specific discipline. Vice presidents are expected to have proven leadership experience, so you may find yourself working in various supervisory roles throughout your career before taking on this role. Some employers require you to have advanced qualifications, such as an MBA.
As a vice president, you can expect a typical monthly salary of RM14,000, according to Jobstreet. - Chief Operations Officer (COO)
A COO oversees an organisation’s internal affairs by managing its overall daily activities. They develop plans to boost operational performance and collaborate with various department managers to execute them. The COO also examines corporate strategies to identify their operational impact.
To become a COO, you should obtain a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field, such as business administration, management or economics, to gain relevant skills in managing business operations. This role also requires many years of work experience related to operational management. Complete a master’s degree related to your field to boost your credibility.
Jobstreet reports that COOs are among the highest-paid professionals in business, with an average salary of RM17,000 per month. - General manager
A general manager is responsible for various business aspects, such as finances, employee management and daily operations, with the goal of enhancing an organisation’s performance. They also work with the upper management team to determine company objectives.
Acquiring a bachelor’s degree in a business discipline is a common route for aspiring managing directors. Many of these business professionals also pursue an MBA to gain knowledge and skills in various business areas such as finance, marketing and human resources. They typically work in diverse managerial positions before entering this role.
According to Jobstreet, a general manager’s typical monthly salary is between RM8,750 and RM11,250. The role also experienced a job growth of 1.2 per cent in the last year. - Financial controller
A financial controller supervises the operations of a company’s finance department. Their duties may include managing taxation processes, providing financial reports for stakeholders and examining the financial performance of the organisation.
To pursue this career path, you can study a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or economics to equip yourself with essential financial skills. A relevant postgraduate degree is highly desirable as well. Many employers seek candidates with professional qualifications such as ACCA, MIA or equivalent. You will most likely work in various financial and managerial roles before becoming a financial controller.
With Jobstreet reporting a monthly salary ranging from RM11,750 to RM14,250 and a career growth of 4.1 per cent over the past year, this role offers a rewarding career path for many finance professionals. - Marketing director
A marketing director oversees an organisation’s marketing strategies and provides leadership to the marketing team to ensure they meet business goals. They may also be involved in researching customer behaviour and market trends, approving marketing budgets and working with other departments like product and sales to develop marketing campaigns.
This role typically requires a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing or other related fields. As the job requires them to lead the marketing team, they must possess excellent management skills as well. They can pursue a general MBA or an MBA specialising in marketing to hone their skills as a manager. Employers generally require marketing directors to have previous work experience in managing successful marketing campaigns, leading marketing teams and working with various internal and external stakeholders.
Roles advertised on Jobstreet suggest the median pay for this role in Malaysia is RM12,000 per month. - Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
A CTO is the highest-ranking IT professional in an organisation. They’re in charge of integrating technological infrastructure within the company to support business goals. They also provide leadership to IT teams and coordinate with other departments to implement technical solutions to enhance operational efficiency.
To excel in this line of work, you can study a bachelor’s degree in IT, computer science, business analytics or another related field. You should then obtain extensive industry experience working in various tech-related and managerial positions. As this is a leadership role, pursuing an MBA would be highly advantageous for you to advance your career.
The average monthly salary for a CTO ranges from RM11,000 to RM12,000, according to Indeed. - Chief Risk Officer (CRO)
CROs examine and manage various types of risks a company may face, such as operational, financial and strategic risks. They identify an organisation’s risk tolerance and develop plans to reduce or prevent potential threats that may seriously impact its business.
To enter this career, you can build your foundational knowledge by studying a bachelor’s degree in risk management, business, finance or a related field. This role requires an extensive amount of industry experience, so you may find yourself working in diverse roles related to risk management before getting promoted to a CRO position. You can also get an MBA or other specialised postgraduate degrees to complement your industry experience.
In Malaysia, a CRO’s typical monthly salary is between RM9,000 and RM10,000, as reported by Indeed. - Country manager
A country manager oversees an organisation’s operations in a specific region or market. Their diverse duties may include supervising the company’s business development and marketing initiatives, ensuring operations comply with local regulations and attending industry events as the company representative. This role requires them to have expert knowledge of their market, customer behaviour as well as competition within the region.
To become a country manager, you typically need an educational background in business administration, marketing or other fields related to your preferred industry. While it may not be a requirement, acquiring a postgraduate degree, especially in business management, can significantly boost your employability. This role requires a considerable amount of experience in strategic planning and operational management, so you should work in various positions within your industry to obtain on-the-job learning.
Based on the roles advertised on Jobstreet, a country manager’s median salary is RM9,500 a month.
How to get a higher salary in business
Improving your earning potential typically involves a combination of skill development and strategic professional moves. Here are some ways you can strive for a higher salary in your business role:
- Pursue a master’s degree to enhance your expertise
If you want to enter a more senior business role, you’re expected to have excellent management skills and expert knowledge in your area of specialisation. You can find a wide range of master’s courses in business to study, from a general MBA to various specialisations such as marketing, business analytics and finance. Having a postgraduate degree can improve your professional credibility and significantly boost your career prospects, which can lead to higher-paying jobs. - Upskill yourself with in-demand skills
As the business environment is constantly evolving, it’s important for you to stay ahead by learning skills that are highly sought after in various industries, such as data analytics, project management and digital marketing. Diversifying your skill set can give you a competitive edge and open more doors to jobs with higher pay. You can develop these skills by taking courses, joining workshops or signing up for certification programmes. - Seek leadership opportunities at work
If you want to climb up the corporate ladder within your company, find ways to make yourself stand out in the workplace. You can do this by taking on more responsibilities and leadership roles in projects. This will increase your visibility in the corporate space, which can help you position yourself as an ideal candidate for a promotion. -
Build a strategic network with influential people in your industry
Nurturing these valuable connections can contribute to your professional growth as you can seek guidance from more experienced professionals and find new job opportunities in your field. Having a positive reputation among your professional peers can also help you get recommended for roles that offer higher salaries. -
Relocate to areas with more career opportunities
One of the factors that may influence a business professional’s salary is the geographical location of their role. You may get a higher salary working in a major city like Kuala Lumpur. Many large companies from high-paying industries like technology and finance have their operations based in this location. The concentration of these businesses leads to a greater demand for skilled talents, hence why they may offer competitive salaries.
Set your aim for a higher-paying role
Obtaining relevant education is important for you to enter high-paying roles in business. Whether you’re a working professional looking to move up in your career or a student considering your tertiary education options, there are plenty of business courses at bachelor’s and master’s level to choose from. You can browse the business, business administration, marketing, management and other business-related programmes offered by leading universities in Malaysia.