This report gives you the latest scoop on designer salaries and working life across Southeast Asia in 2024.
We made effort to expand our research beyond Singapore to understand how designers are navigating job security, specialisation, and career growth in different markets.
From compensation trends to emerging specialisations, from market challenges to learning pathways - we've gathered data-backed insights to help you navigate your design career with confidence.
Whether you're just starting out, leading design teams, or building the future of design education - this report is your guide to understanding our evolving industry.
Methodology
This year's report is built on data collected through an anonymous and voluntary survey conducted from October to November 2024. We reached out across Southeast Asia through partnerships with local design communities in the region.
Our process:
Collected responses through an online form with built-in validation
Received 1,797 valid responses from across Southeast Asia
Performed data cleaning while maintaining original raw data
Standardised common variations (city names, salary formats)
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A note on data and bias
Our findings reflect insights from designers who actively participated in our survey through design communities and networks. This introduces some inherent biases to consider:
Community reach
Data primarily comes from designers engaged in online design communities
Geographic skew
Stronger representation from Indonesia (79.0%), which may not reflect the complete regional picture
Digital access
Survey reached those with reliable internet access and comfort with online participation
Language
Survey conducted in English, which may limit participation in some markets
While these insights offer valuable perspectives on the Southeast Asian design industry, we encourage readers to consider them as informative indicators rather than definitive benchmarks for the entire region.
Key Findings
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October - November 2024
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1,797 valid responses
Demographics
Young workforce dominance (80% under 35) with strong urban concentration
Clear geographic hub pattern centered on Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia
Notable gender distribution showing more balance in early career stages
Commentary: The data shows that the design industry is growing in Southeast Asia, but some countries and smaller cities might not be fully represented. With such a young group of designers, companies have a great opportunity to shape the future of design, but they also need to think about how to best support and grow their talent.
Digital design roles dominate (61.8%), particularly product/UX design (41.7%)
High proportion of mid-level ICs (42.6%) with limited leadership representation (5.9%)
Strong formal design education (77.5%), often complemented with self-taught skills
Primarily local roles, with limited international exposure (14.19%)
Commentary: With so many digital design roles and mid-level designers, it seems the industry is growing up. But there aren't as many senior leadership positions or chances to work internationally, which could make it harder for designers to advance their careers and gain global experience.
Regional currency dominance (96.9%) suggesting primarily local market focus
Wide compensation variances, particularly at leadership levels
Notable compensation jumps between IC and management tracks
Compensation structures vary across markets
Indonesia: widest pay ranges
Singapore: more predictable progression
Malaysia: distinct director-level compensation
Consistent outliers across markets, particularly in mid to senior IC roles
Median annual total compensation
🇮🇩 IDR 92.35M
🇸🇬 SGD 79,200
🇲🇾 MYR 97,200
🇻🇳 VND 260M
🇹🇭 THB 652,000
which includes base salary, bonuses, stock, and others.
Commentary: Pay structures look different across Southeast Asia, so companies need to understand what's typical in each market to create fair and competitive compensation packages. Some designers are earning significantly more than others in similar roles, which could mean that companies willing to pay more might attract top talent.
Startup/tech sector leading the group (63.1% combined)
Predominantly lean teams (81.9% under 10 people, 22.6% solo designers)
Emerging hybrid work patterns (36% hybrid, 24.9% fully remote)
Commentary: Startups, tech companies, and agencies are key players in the design industry, and many designers work in small teams or even on their own. While most still work in offices, we're starting to see a mix of in-office and remote work, suggesting that companies are trying to be flexible and adapt to what works best for their teams.
52.5% of designers actively negotiate compensation
Senior leaders 2.1x more likely to negotiate than junior designers
Successful negotiations typically result in 5-10% increases
Salary history disclosure remains a persistent challenge
Commentary: Negotiating pay is important for designers, and it seems to pay off, with successful negotiations often leading to decent pay bumps. However, many companies still ask for salary history, which can be tricky for designers to navigate. This suggests that companies might need to rethink their approach to hiring and compensation to be more transparent and fair.
70.3% of designers reported career advancement in the past year
Soft skills like increased project influence (64.3%) lead growth
46.2% saw no pay increase despite progress
Mixed satisfaction with progression: 42.1% highly satisfied
Commentary: Many designers feel they're making progress in their careers, especially when it comes to taking on more responsibility and having a bigger impact on projects. However, their pay isn't always keeping up with their growth, and not everyone is happy with their career progression. This suggests that companies might need to do a better job of recognising and rewarding their designers' contributions to keep them satisfied and motivated.
70.2% feel their role is valued in their organisations
57.7% believe their organisations prioritise user needs in decision making
69.2% had to invest extra effort in design advocacy
Gap exists between perceived role value and fair compensation
Commentary: While many designers feel valued in their companies, there's still work to be done to make sure design is truly appreciated and prioritised. Designers often have to put in extra work to advocate for their role and the importance of putting users first. There's also a disconnect between how much designers feel they contribute and how they're compensated, suggesting that companies could do more to align pay with the value that designers bring to the table.
Layoffs affected 22.9% of designers in the past year
High job security concerns: 74.8% expressing market uncertainty
Current roles well-aligned: 77.3% report match between job scope and expertise
Career advancement opportunities perceived as limited in current climate
Commentary: The current job market has been tough on designers, with layoffs and uncertainty making many worry about their job security. On the bright side, most designers feel their current roles are a good fit for their skills. However, there's a sense that opportunities to move up are limited right now, which could leave designers feeling stuck. If this continues, it might affect how motivated designers feel in their jobs and whether they decide to stay with their current companies long-term.
A heartfelt thank you to our community partners and participants across Southeast Asia 💖
This report reflects the collective insights from our vibrant design community—from the dedicated teams at HaloDesigners, Singapore Product Design, Maturis, Friends of Figma SG, Design SG, Tiny Design Club, UXMY, UXPH, UXTH, and to every participant who shared their experiences and knowledge. Your contributions have made this research truly representative of our region's diverse design landscape.
For suggestions or feedback, please reach out to our team.
2024 Team
Special thanks to our volunteers this year who put this together:
