2024 Report
Design Pay Asia's second report covers more ground than the first, with responses from 1,797 designers across five markets.
What began in Singapore has grown into something truly regional. We expanded our reach into Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand to understand how designers across different economies are navigating compensation, job security, specialisation, and career growth. It speaks to designers building their careers, and to the leaders and educators shaping what the profession looks like next in the region.
Start reading →1797 +
Designers surveyed across Southeast Asia
79.0 %
Indonesian respondents, our largest market
93.9 %
of respondents are 35 or under
52.5 %
of designers negotiate compensation
70.3 %
report career advancement in the past year
9 sections drawing from 1797 survey responses — each with data-backed findings and community commentary.
10 sections
Age and gender profile of 1,797 surveyed designers across Southeast Asia.
79.0%
of respondents are based in Indonesia
57.0%
of respondents are aged 25–30
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.
Employment types, design functions, and career levels of respondents.
41.74%
work in product/UX design
42.6%
are mid-level individual contributors
Pay structures differ from market to market in Southeast Asia. What counts as competitive pay in Jakarta is not the same as what counts as competitive pay in Singapore.
Median annual compensation across five Southeast Asian markets.
76.18%
of pay is reported in Indonesian Rupiah
94.55%
of designers report pay on a monthly basis
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.
Organisation size, work models, and sector distribution.
30.3%
of respondents work at startups
81.9%
of design teams have fewer than 10 people
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.
Negotiation behaviour, confidence, and salary pressure among designers.
52.5%
of designers negotiate their compensation
79.5%
of those who negotiate achieve some increase
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.
Advancement rates, salary increases, and professional development.
70.3%
reported career advancement in the past year
46.2%
of designers who advanced saw no pay increase
Designers across the region feel more valued than fairly paid, and that gap holds in every market bar one. Many also spend time advocating for their work with cross-functional teams and pushing user needs onto the agenda. Recognition, in short, still outruns reward, and closing that gap looks different market by market.
Perceptions of design
73.7%
of Indonesian designers feel their role is valued
59.7%
of Indonesian designers say their org prioritises user needs
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.
Layoff exposure, job security concerns, and market outlook.
74.8%
of designers report job security concerns
77.3%
say their role matches their skills
Where do you sit in this data, and does it match how you feel about the value of your work?
The conversation continues →Thank you
Special thanks to our volunteers this year who put this together:
This report was built through a regional community effort. Our partners helped extend the survey's reach, and every participant added lived experience that made the findings stronger.
For suggestions or feedback, please reach out to our team.
Share this report, tag us at #DesignPayAsia, or contribute your data to the open pay database for next year's research.
Contribute anonymously today
Respondents cluster in major tech cities; smaller cities and countries such as the Philippines are underrepresented. The workforce is young, which raises real questions about how companies support and grow talent over time.