In this article
A security guard’s salary in Malaysia is set by law at the bottom and by the job at the top. This guide explains the minimum wage, what job advertisements show, how overtime works on long shifts and what tends to raise a guard’s pay. The figures are indicative: always check the written offer.
The minimum wage is RM1,700 a month
Under the Minimum Wages Order 2024, the national minimum wage is RM1,700 a month. It applied to employers with five or more employees from 1 February 2025 and to all employers from 1 August 2025. A guard’s basic monthly pay cannot be lower than this.
What job advertisements show
Salary pages on JobStreet and AJobThing put most advertised security guard jobs at roughly RM1,700 to RM2,600 a month. State averages on AJobThing range from about RM1,700 in Kedah and Sabah to about RM2,000 in Selangor and Melaka and about RM2,270 in Johor. These figures come from job advertisements, so treat them as a guide rather than official statistics.
| State | Average monthly pay (about) |
|---|---|
| Kedah | RM1,700 |
| Sabah | RM1,700 |
| Melaka | RM2,000 |
| Putrajaya | RM2,000 |
| Selangor | RM2,000 |
| Terengganu | RM2,000 |
| Johor | RM2,270 |
Overtime on long shifts
Many guard posts run 12-hour shifts. Under the Employment Act 1955, normal working hours are capped at 45 hours a week, and work beyond normal hours is overtime. Overtime on a normal working day is paid at no less than one and a half times the hourly rate, and work on rest days and public holidays is paid at higher rates. How a shift is split into normal hours and overtime should be written in the employment contract.
| Extra work | Minimum pay under the Employment Act 1955 |
|---|---|
| Overtime on a normal working day | 1.5 × the hourly rate |
| Rest day, up to half the normal hours | Half a day’s wages |
| Rest day, more than half the normal hours | One day’s wages |
| Overtime on a rest day | 2 × the hourly rate |
| Public holiday, normal hours | Two days’ wages, on top of the holiday pay |
| Overtime on a public holiday | 3 × the hourly rate |
Employers also contribute to EPF (KWSP) and SOCSO (PERKESO) for eligible employees, on top of the salary. If you are unsure how your pay is calculated, ask your employer for a payslip breakdown or contact the Labour Department (JTK).
What raises a guard’s pay
- Experience, and a clean record at previous sites
- Security training and certification, such as CSG
- Supervisory roles: shift leader or site supervisor
- Night shifts and overtime, paid under the contract
- The site and the state: some sites and states pay more
Working at GTAC
GTAC is a KDN-licensed security company that employs local and Nepalese guards. Our guards are CSG-certified, supervised and insured. If you are reliable and disciplined, apply to join our team.
Sources: Minimum Wages Order 2024; JobStreet and AJobThing salary pages (checked November 2026); Employment Act 1955.
