If you mean 5 digits monthly, you are so wrong. As a fresh grad, you will most likely get around 3k.

Bro, common sense would tell you that those salaries are ANNUAL not MONTHLY.

Actuaries are well compensated. Experienced fellows have the potential to earn from $150,000 to $250,000 annually, and many actuaries earn more than that.

http://www.beanactuary.org/why/?fa=salary

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Math/Actuaries.htm

Yes your friend earned RM 10K per month or SGD 4,100. U cant simply convert to ringgit. U have to consider the base salary in the home currency if u wanna compare salaries. If u do a reverse calculation, a Malaysian engineer earning RM 5K per month here will earn about 4K pounds in UK as well. He won't be getting 1,000 pounds would he?

And using 1 person as a benchmark wont give you a realistic assessment.

Don't day dream boy. Just coming out from uni won't give u 5 digit income regardless ur job. Doctors earning around RM 4k. And you don't earn more money by working overseas. You can earn 5k SGD but can't eat RM 5 nasi goreng at SG. I'm working in Malaysia at the same salary SG offered me ( exm : RM 5k, and SGD 2.5k) I can say, i'm more richer by working in Malaysia then SG

1. Whether it is annually or monthly the salary is still high. (In MYR will reach 5 digits)
Looking at the link you provided, the pay for fresh grad is not THAT high (around 50k per year). As a matter of fact, other professions such as engineers can give you similar pay and they will be 5 digits in MYR.

2. I have a friend (Malaysian) who graduated in Actuarial Science is working at Singapore and he did earn MYR10000 as first salary.
I have many friends who graduated in Actuarial Science and they don't earn that kind of money. And I also have many friends who aren't actuary who earn more than MYR10000 in the U.S. So what does that mean?

If you pass the professional papers, you earn BIG bucks. However, very FEW people can pass all the papers. Most only manage to pass the first few. For those who did pass all the professional papers, they are the top in the profession. But for every profession, when you are the best or one of the best, you earn a lot.

He's telling u to stop dreaming bout earning 5 figure salaries as a fresh graduate. Get the right facts and work towards it. Dont just make salary your sole ambition. Many of those who chose jobs based on salaries are very disappointed ppl today. Take this from a person who has 11 years experience and is currently in Management and earning approx RM200K per annum.

5 digits for what? Annual salary? There is no 5 digit monthly salary for fresh grads in Actuarial Science in Malaysia or any other country for that matter. Leave out the currency conversion if ure comparing base salaries between countries.

If u wanna do comparisons, i had fresh grad friends who went over to Singapore to work as electronics technicians and they brought home a salary of approx SGD 3K per month (RM 7,200). The minimum qualification to be a technician is only a diploma. So is earning RM2,800 more really a big deal for a degree holder in Actuarial Science?

don't keep misleading the youngsters, because of many people saying that by being an actuarial automatically means earning big bucks, many young people are flooding in the actuarial course in colleges and unis

but there's also significant amount of them either dropped off or changed into another course in their 2nd or 3rd year, due to unable to cope with the stress and academic load..

I do not understand why are you taking currency difference into consideration.   Earning 5 figure for a fresh grad is very high, no doubt unless you are living and working in Malaysia. It is almost impossible for a company to give you five figure salary as a fresh grad in Malaysia. You have no experience at all.

It is everybody goal to earn 5 or 6 figure salary. It does not mean you can't dream. But you must be realistic. As a fresh graduate, your priority is to polish up your skill and gain experience. Money will come automatically when you have equipped yourself substantially.

If you say working overseas and hoping for minimum of MYR10000, that is easy to achieve in countries with larger currency like UK, US, AUD. Bear in mind, working in these countries also attracts higher tax. Forum is for discussion. Bottomline, as a starter, do not put money as the first priority. You will find yourself, disappointed easily.

Do u even read what the other ppl are trying to tell u here?

You have got the whole idea wrong. First u made the wrong assumption in assuming that the data u provided was a monthly salary instead of annual income. Then u started comparing with foreign countries and then converting the money into ringgit to say that AS degree holders earn a lot. Then u used ONE person's salary in Singapore and converted it to ringgit to assume that was a great salary. And now ure trying to defend yerself.

Stop with this 'i know it all' mentality. This is the type of mentality that will get you nowhere in life. Uve not even gotten yourself into a degree program yet and ure already talking as if u know everything about work. Learn to take advice from the seniors here.

Let me tell u something. Anybody can earn a 5 figure salary with most basic technical/finance degrees/diploma working in any country with a higher currency convertion rate. So quit harping about AS. U want higher salary go and work in conflict zones. Ive employed local engineers with only 4 years experience to be based at very remote mining sites in Mongolia and their salary is about RM17,000 a month. I also know of many professionals working in other conflict zones in Sudan, Middle East Kalimantan who earn much more. U think thats great? It isnt when u consider other factors. Ive worked overseas so i know what im talking about.

When u talk about working overseas its not just about the salary ure paid. More important is the TAKE HOME SALARY not just the numbers on papar. Also consider cost of living, accomodation, transport, home base travel, etc. Thats why when experienced ppl talk about overseas postings, they always talk about salary PACKAGES. Not just the salary alone. You have to look at the WHOLE picture. Your friend in Singapore may earn SGD 4,100 per month. But how much is his take home pay after local taxes, how much is his daily expenses, accomodation, travel, etc? After deducting all that, then come and tell me how much he earns. And no its not the same with Malaysia. Thats why experienced ppl always negotiate salary packages when posted overseas e.g tax exemption, paid housing, company home base travel, company transport, etc.

But the most important thing is to STOP FOCUSING ON SALARIES. As a fresh grad u should be focused on GETTING EXPERIENCE & PROVING YORSELF first. Ive done many interviews for technical positions and when anybody asks me how much is the company prepared to pay, the question i ask them back is how much do u think ure worth to this company. And trust me, a piece of paper qualification only grants u permission to work in that field. Employers are more concerned about what you can deliver to the business. Any candidate who thinks he can walk into my interview session with paper qualifications with the assumption he is in a position to bargain with me bout salary, will most surely get shown the door eventually.

Ive employed candidates with lesser paper qualifications and experience but had the correct attitude compared to those who were highly qualified. In my opinion, attitude and character is more important that a papar qualification or the number of exams uve passed simply because its easier to groom a person with the right attitude instead of someone who thinks he knows everything before even starting.

So stop choosing fields of study based on some salary data you get of the net. You can earn top dollar but that accounts for nothing when uve lost your job satisfaction. And trust me when i say this that job satisfaction does not come from a high salary.

Actuarial Science degree doesn't mean anything. The more important is the SOA/CAS certificate. Anybody can get the sky-high salary provided they took and pass the exam and have certain experience (and the most important, find a boss that appreciate them and willing to pay). It doesn't mean they must come from AS graduate)

yes, actuary salary is high, but you have to sacrifice the leisure time to study external exam. But if compare again, i would say, sales will be better if you want to get big money fast. In sales, you don't need a good degree, don't need a good experience, but you need the skill to close deal, and tadaa.. If you can sell, you gain a lot. Yes, A LOT, and sales pay-check can hit 5 digits monthly even a new comer. What are you waiting for? A-Level won't land you a good income anyhow.

we work for money, that's is always true, but "choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

You can earn above average + learn relevant experience at the same time. One thing is for sure, you won't get that job by arguing here on LYN. Better put your energy to find out and apply for such jobs.

Ps. I am firm believer of earning above average + learn relevant experience.

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Added on June 13, 2012, 10:50 pmMy friend sis got hired by BNM as fresh grad- RM17k/mth

Oh btw, no tom d*** and harry can complete actuary course much less ace it. She did ace it though.

no offense to others, i agree with the statement above

In malaysia, without cert, we still can alive,
exp. my HK fren told me, if you dont hav a cert, how pro you are, u are not entitled to go in big company
* not to go in big company, u will never gains very high salary as u expected.
Inb4, u still can start up ur ownbusiness, start ur career, earn the big money

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Added on June 14, 2012, 11:00 am
this
In malaysia, u do, In REAL world, i am not sure ur statement is correct..
or else u are talking about India? Cambodia? Vietnam?

i dont wan to talk about HK, u try to get a job in SG without cert

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Added on June 14, 2012, 11:06 am
live for life  
i am a designer, so i choose my way, i can work happily even in ot
salary wise ah, i can see graphic designer earn not much in msia, but in sg, is a good start XD

Your examples are opposing your stand. 

You mentioned without cert in Malaysia, you still can survive. I interpret it as average salary to stay afloat in the current society. As for the HK example, it is indirectly stating that same as well. Without cert, you can't go to big company and as a result, you can't command a high salary. However, you are still able to survive by living within your means in HK.

Wow!! your definition of survive = having high salary. I wonder what are the majority of the people like me, earning average salary are doing? hibernating?    just kidding.

i think you are generalizing everything based on what your friend has said. If you say Malaysians without certs, can earn high salary by climbing the corporate ladder. Why not in HK?

Having more certificates will definitely give you advantage over other candidates. However, IMHO, certificates complements your working experience and not the other way round unless you are in the education industry.

Just a tip. Don't forget to network. Start early, i.e. in Uni, go join VVIP pet projects, get to know them personally.

Actuarial Science degree doesn't mean anything. Anybody can be an actuary,it's a profession, not tied with degree. A degree is needed, but an AS degree is surplus (of course if you can have it, better, but not necessary). So I say doesn't mean anything.

completing an A-level won't give you good income now
I mean is, if money is your only main concern, you SHOULDN'T STUDY NOW!! go work, earn, invest, business, capital growth and return. way faster than you finish a degree. but riskier, well, the hunger your risk appetite, the greater the income realised when success.

Anybody can be an actuary,it's a profession, not tied with degree. A degree is needed, but an AS degree is surplus (of course if you can have it, better, but not necessary)

millionaire? there are a LOT of millionaires out there without even have a formal education up to SRP level (equivalent PMR)
there are a LOT of the first-class graduates out there not even have a proper income.
relative.  

if you tie salary = education, you are so wrong.
some job don't need your high education, they still pay you well. because pay package is not only consider 1 factor, which you care the most, education, and which the bosses care the less, education as well. Why?
cases:
if you are the boss from a electric cable contractor, both candidate age 24, 1 (school drop out) have 8 years experience deal with all sort of cabling, and 1 is first class graduate from well known university. after interview, who you choose, and why?

we discuss salary, but please don't think edu level = salary.

Bnm fresh grad salary is lower than 3k for actuarial. Care to tell how your friend managed 6 times the amount of a fresh grad? A qualified experience actuary would not necessary earn that much, I don't see why bnm would pay her that high honestly

Honestly, if al you care is salary, then I would say almost any degree will give you myr 10k per month in the us, Australia, UK etc..

I will warn you though, if you choose actuarial and decide to find Jo. In those places,, you should expect difficulty in finding a job.

He reads internet article here and there, and assume its enough and he knows things now.. He's right, you kow, because the articles says so! this website that website..

yeah right.. leave him be, guys, let him believe what he wants to believe, and when reality hits him, when he actually go to work, only then he'll know..

I apologize for not reading and answer straight ahead. I'll check next time.

For this degree thing, it had already turn to necessity or an asset to the growing society. It's like an entry passport to a country. Without a passport , you can still enter a country though it's consider illegal and you are not guranteed what kind of treatment you'll be welcome there. Same thing applies, you can get a job being a diploma or spm. You might not expect to get the same treatment as degree holders no matter how hard you work.
Yes we heard of stories of boss/ceo not possessing even an spm and make their way up the top. That only applies to olden day back in before year 2005.

Actually wat he say is quite true for most people. I haf a fren finish SPM only or maybe diploma work 10 yrs salalry still range of 2k-3k. Then my gf bro just grad age 24 now get 1st job salary rm3k.. So u think degree worth or not

you are totally bullshitting . getting 3k for nowadays fresh grad is just as easy as eating nuts. Recall 2 years back on my graduate time, getting 3.5k is not anything non-common. What to say now.

Never thought employer is stupid, they know way to differentiate between talent and joker.

If you cant make it, doesn't mean other people couldn't. Face the truth bro....