KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Starting salaries for junior engineers and technicians in the local chip industry scale up steadily with experience, offering sustainable career progression even as overseas markets tempt local talent with higher pay, said Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani today.

Addressing questions in Parliament on wage competitiveness and talent retention, Johari said entry-level salaries for junior engineers typically start around RM3,500 and can reach RM6,000 as they gain experience, while technicians can earn between RM3,000 and RM5,000 depending on tenure.

Johari acknowledged the salaries may seem nominally low when compared to what companies in countries like Taiwan or South Korea may offer, but said they must still weigh higher overseas pay against the increased cost of living in those countries.