Which Types of Engineering Degree Gets You the Highest Salary?

Engineering is the application of maths and science to design and build things to help improve people’s lives. By applying scientific, economic and mathematical knowledge, engineers work to design, build, maintain and improve all sorts of things, including structures, machines, electronic devices, systems and processes.

Hence, engineering is a broad field – from civil, to mechanical and electrical, there seems to be a specific engineering branch for everything. And we haven’t even covered the sub-sets of each branch!

Because of its vastness, Afterschool.my have decided to compile a thorough guide just for you – this is practically everything you need to know about engineering!

The Average Salary of an Engineer in Malaysia

Here is the average monthly salary for an engineer:

Engineer Salaries by Company

Thanks to its high demand, many companies across Malaysia are offering high salaries for engineers. Below are some of the average salary by engineering companies:

Top 3 Highest Paid Engineering Degree in Malaysia

While all engineering branches are in high demand, these three listed below is the most lucrative engineering branch for students to pursue:

1. Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum engineering is undoubtedly the most lucrative of all the engineering careers. What’s more, the demand for petroleum engineers is expected to exceed the number of individuals trained to fill available positions – therefore increasing the demand for qualified graduates. Petroleum engineers design and oversee the production and methods for retrieving oil and natural gas from various depths beneath the earth's surface. Most petroleum engineers work for oil companies. Others work at universities or research facilities.

In Malaysia, a petroleum engineer typically makes between RM50k - RM604k.

2. Marine Engineering

Marine engineering is another highly paid field that is less common than other majors. Marine engineering is vital for all forms of transportation on sea, be it boats, ships, remotely operated vehicles, and offshore platforms, plant and equipment. It serves to build, convert, test and maintain these vehicles to ensure safety, efficiency and effectiveness. The work involves a detailed technical knowledge of naval construction and mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering systems.

A marine engineer in Malaysia is estimated to make around RM6k - RM143k.

3. Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering is the unique fusion between chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics and economics to produce chemicals, materials and energy. Chemical engineers apply their knowledge of various chemical properties to develop new chemical substances (such as fuels, lubricants, or cleaning solvents) or improve and existing ones. They may also serve as troubleshooters by helping to examine and improve industrial processes using the application of better chemical systems.

A Chemical Engineer typically makes between RM3k - RM100k in Malaysia.

But What’s the Education Pathway Should Students Take?

For a start, you can either complete a pre-university (A-Levels, STPM, Matriculation) or a Foundation programme (Foundation in Engineering or Foundation in Science) after you’ve taken your SPM. This particular route usually takes 1-2 years depending on the selected programme.

Alternatively, you can also pursue a Diploma in Engineering which usually takes between 2.5 and 3 years. A diploma qualification will give you the option of either entering the workforce in relevant fields upon graduating or continuing with a Degree in Engineering, starting in Year 2.

Subsequently, you can enrol in a Bachelor of Engineering in Malaysia, which usually requires 3 – 4 years of study. If you wish to gain professional status as a professional engineer in Malaysia, you must study an accredited Engineering Degree with a duration of 4 years.

Completing this degree will allow you to enter the workforce. However, to gain the status of a professional engineer, you must have at least 3 years of practical working experience and pass a Professional Assessment Examination by the Board of Engineers Malaysia.

In summary, it takes at least 4 – 6 years from SPM to become an engineer while it’ll take you about 8 – 9 years to become a registered professional engineer.

So Which University is the Best for Engineering Studies?

Malaysians are extremely lucky because there is no shortage of engineering schools in the country, all providing the highest of quality education. But the best institution to go to that also guarantees instant employability upon graduation is undoubtedly Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN).

UTP & UNITEN, Malaysia’s Top Engineering School

Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN)

UTP offers a wide range of industry-relevant engineering, science and technology programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. 

Meanwhile, UNITEN offers a range of courses for students in all levels of study (Foundation, Diploma, Bachelor's degree and Postgraduate) focusing in Engineering, Information Technology, Business Management and related areas.

UTP’s engineering courses has always been their most in-demand courses for students, and the same applies to UNITEN. UTP and UNITEN’s status as a Government Linked University (GLU) is also a huge factor why you should study engineering here. Government-Linked University (GLU) is a university association owned by Government-Owned Enterprises in Malaysia.

This collaboration allows improvements in teaching, learning and enrichment of students’ knowledge and their employability. These two private institutions have a history of working extremely close with Government-Linked Companies (GLC) such as TNB, Petronas, Shell, Intel, HP, IBM, Perodua, Proton and many more.

To get more information and better understanding, you can click the list of engineering topic below. These videos featured Ir. Ashari bin Mohd Yakub, Competent Electrical Engineer (CEE) and Technical Advisor from the Board of Engineers Malaysia. Watch them now to answer all your questions!

Which Type of Engineering is Best for You?

Men vs. Women in Engineering – Who is Better?

Which Type of Engineering Gets You the Highest Salary?

Why You Can’t Become an Engineer with a 3-Year Engineering Degree Programme?

Important Subjects to Score During SPM to Pursue Engineering

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Engineering

Can Engineers Become Good Managers

How to Become a Professional Engineer

Which is the Best Country to Study Engineering?

Can Malaysian Engineering Graduates Work Abroad?

Should Engineers Pursue Postgraduate Studies?

Why are Most Engineering Graduates Jobless Today?

To check list of courses, entry requirements, fees, intakes and apply click HERE for UTP and HERE for UNITEN. Feel free to contact our counsellors as well if you need FREE advice on your education pathway.