Complete guide

How to find software developers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia, located in the western part of the country. It is one of Southeast Asia's most vibrant cities, with a population of over 1.7 million people. Kuala Lumpur is a major business hub, home to iconic landmarks such as the Petronas Twin Towers, and a melting pot of diverse cultures. From delicious street food to luxury shopping malls and green spaces, Kuala Lumpur has something to offer everyone. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is a fast-growing tech hub in Southeast Asia, attracting more and more tech talent from around the world. The city has the largest tech talent pool in Malaysia, with nearly 40% of the country’s IT professionals living and working in Kuala Lumpur. The city is home to a number of high-tech startups, large tech companies, and international tech firms. The majority of tech talent in Kuala Lumpur comes from countries such as India, the United States, China, and the UK. The city boasts a highly skilled and diverse workforce, with over 60% of tech talent in Kuala Lumpur having a post-secondary degree. The average salary for IT professionals in the city is higher than the national average, with the median salary for tech workers in Kuala Lumpur being around $45,000 USD. The city is also home to a number of world-class universities and research institutes, providing a strong foundation for tech talent to continue to develop their skills.

The tech ecosystem in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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Best tech meetups in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Attending local meetups is a great way of getting introduced  to technical talent and getting a better feel for what software developers care about.
These are the best local meetups:

1. KLJS – Kuala Lumpur JavaScript Meetup
2. KL DevOps Meetup
3. Kuala Lumpur AWS User Group
4. KL Tech Talks
5. KL Cloud Native Meetup
6. KL Artificial Intelligence Meetup
7. Kuala Lumpur AI & Machine Learning Meetup
8. KL Big Data & Analytics Meetup
9. KL FinTech Meetup
10. KL CyberSecurity Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

There are many different ways to find and hire developers, some examples are:



1. Use online job sites such as JobStreet, Monster, and Indeed.

2. Leverage social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to find and connect with software developers in the area.

3. Utilize specialized job boards such as Stack Overflow, Github, and Hacker News to find software developers with the right skillset for your project.

4. Contact local universities and colleges to find software development talent.

5. Attend local tech events and meetups to network with software developers.

6. Use a recruitment agency to help source and screen qualified candidates.

7. Post about your open position on forums and discussion boards.

8. Use a freelancer marketplace to find and hire freelance software developers.

These are currently the best methods to find and hire developers:

Search LinkedIn, GitHub and Stack Overflow and reach out

The best way to find developer talent in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.

Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.

An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.

Best job boards to find developers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.

These are the best local job boards to post your developer job on:

1. LinkedIn
2. JobStreet
3. Indeed
4. Monster
5. The Star Job
6. Glassdoor
7. JobsMalaysia
8. MyStarJob
9. Facebook
10. Malaysia Jobstreet Network

Best remote job boards to find developers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.

These are the best remote job boards to post your developer job on:

1. Upwork
2. Freelancer.com
3. Guru
4. Peopleperhour
5. Toptal
6. LinkedIn
7. Craiglist
8. Remote OK
9. AngelList
10. Jobstreet

How to hire software developers from any place without a local office

When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.

Average local salaries

Average salary for a junior software developer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Junior developer salaries in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, vary by experience, education, employer, and other factors. According to PayScale, the average salary for a junior developer in Kuala Lumpur is MYR 37,081 per year, or MYR 3,091 per month.The lowest salary reported for a junior developer in Kuala Lumpur is MYR 21,600 per year. The highest salary reported for a junior developer in Kuala Lumpur is MYR 67,200 per year.The average salary for a junior developer in Kuala Lumpur also varies depending on industry. For example, the average salary for a junior software developer in Kuala Lumpur is MYR 46,160 per year, while a junior web developer in Kuala Lumpur is MYR 36,000 per year.Overall, junior developers in Kuala Lumpur should expect to earn a salary of around MYR 3,091 per month.

Average salary for a senior software developer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The average salary for a senior developer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is around RM 8,500 per month. This amount is slightly higher than the national average for Malaysia, which is around RM 7,500 per month. Senior developers in Kuala Lumpur typically have a minimum of 5 years of experience in software development and have a strong understanding of coding languages such as Java, PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and others. They are also expected to have a good knowledge of web technologies such as AJAX, HTML5, and other frameworks. Senior developers are expected to be well versed in software design and architecture, as well as a deep understanding of database design and development. They are also expected to be able to take on more complex roles such as leading a team and managing projects.

Employing software developers (remotely)

Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a service provider that can act as the employer of record for an employee in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The EOR is responsible for taking care of payroll, taxes, and other local compliance requirements for the employee. This can be beneficial for companies who wish to reduce the administrative burden of managing a remote employee in a foreign country.

The first step is to find an EOR that is able to provide services in Malaysia. There are a few reputable companies that provide such services, including Globalization Partners and Velocity Global.

Once you have chosen an EOR, you will need to provide them with information about the employee, such as the job title, duties, and the start date. The EOR will then set up the employee in the local payroll system and will be responsible for paying their wages and filing payroll taxes. The EOR will also be responsible for providing the employee with the necessary benefits, such as health insurance and other benefits that are required by law.

Finally, the EOR will be responsible for keeping up with local compliance requirements and making sure that the employee is in compliance with Malaysian labor laws. This includes ensuring that the employee is paid the correct wages and is provided with the correct benefits. The EOR will also keep track of any changes in local laws and regulations, and will make sure that the employee is in compliance with them.

Use a platform to find and hire the best developers:
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