Looking for better pay? These are where you may go

In APAC, Singapore leads with the highest average monthly salary of US$4,457, while Hong Kong ranks sixth in the region and 22^nd globally, earning US$3,177 on average.

If you are looking to boost your income, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the US might be your next destination. According to the latest report by CEOWORLD magazine, these countries top the global rankings for highest average salaries in 2025.

Having compared after-tax gross average monthly salaries across 197 countries and regions, the report has identified the top 10 highest-paying countries in 2025:

According to the report, the highest-paying jobs are typically found in these sectors:

• finance
• insurance
• electricity
• mining
• information technology
• retail
• education

Conversely, sectors such as administrative support, hospitality, and construction tend to offer the lowest wages.

Snapshot of the APAC region

Looking at APAC, Singapore stands out with an average monthly salary of US$4,457, followed by Australia (US$4,325), the United Arab Emirates (US$3,770), and Israel (US$3,715).

Hong Kong ranks sixth in the region and 22^nd globally, with an average salary of US$3,177.

10 highest-paying countries/regions in the APAC region in 2025:

The rankings for other major countries and regions in the APAC region:

41^st globally – Taiwan (ROC) (US$1,870)
60^th globally – China (PRC) (US$1,229)
70^th globally – Malaysia (US$962)
82^nd globally – India (US$735)
94^th globally – Thailand (US$615)
101^st globally – Vietnam (US$555)
118^th globally – Indonesia (US$451)
125^th globally – Myanmar (US$397)
126^th globally – Philippines (US$393)
134^th globally – Cambodia (US$322)