Skilled Trades Careers in Malaysia: 62 Jobs & Study Routes
Quick answer
Degreemate has 62 career pages in Skilled Trades. 59 can be started with a certificate, diploma or TVET training straight after SPM, and 5 carry a sourced Malaysian salary band (each with its source and date). Every page shows the duties, entry requirements and the study programmes that lead there.
Not sure which sector? Try the Future Me quizEvery career in this sector (62)
- Air-Con & Refrigeration TechnicianStraight after SPMElectrical Engineering
- Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME)Inspects, maintains and certifies aircraft airworthiness at MRO facilities and airlines. Requires a CAAM Part-66 licence; pay rises sharply once licensed, with strong demand from MAB Engineering, AirAsia and regional MRO hubs.Sourced payAviation
- Automotive Body RepairerStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Automotive TechnicianDiagnoses and repairs vehicles at workshops and dealerships. SKM certification and brand-specific (and increasingly EV/hybrid) training raise pay; steady demand nationwide regardless of economic cycle.Straight after SPMSourced payElectrical Engineering
- BarberStraight after SPM
- Beauty TherapistStraight after SPM
- BoilermakerStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Bricklayer & BlockmasonStraight after SPMArchitecture & Built Environment
- Butcher & Meat CutterStraight after SPMAgriculture
- Cabinetmaker & Bench CarpenterStraight after SPMArchitecture & Built Environment
- CarpenterStraight after SPMArchitecture & Built Environment
- Cement & Concrete FinisherStraight after SPMArchitecture & Built Environment
- Construction Site SupervisorStraight after SPMArchitecture & Built Environment
- Construction WorkerStraight after SPMArchitecture & Built Environment
- Diesel & Truck MechanicStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Drywall & Ceiling InstallerStraight after SPMArchitecture & Built Environment
- Electrician (Chargeman)Installs and maintains electrical systems. Suruhanjaya Tenaga certification tiers (PW1–PW4, chargeman) map directly to pay rises.Sourced payElectrical Engineering
- Electronics TechnicianStraight after SPMElectrical Engineering
- EV Charging TechnicianInstalls, tests and maintains electric vehicle charging equipment under the appropriate electrical supervision. Electrical installation work must follow Energy Commission requirements.Electrical Engineering
- Gas Fitter (Competent Person)Installs, tests, repairs and maintains piped gas systems (natural gas and LPG) in homes, restaurants, factories and commercial buildings. To do this legally you must be certified by Suruhanjaya Tenaga (Energy Commission) as a gas competent person, starting as a Gas Fitter Class III.Straight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- General Maintenance TechnicianStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Glazier & Aluminium FabricatorStraight after SPMArchitecture & Built Environment
- HairstylistStraight after SPM
- Hazardous Materials Removal WorkerStraight after SPMPublic Safety & Defence
- Heavy Equipment MechanicStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Heavy Equipment OperatorStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Industrial Blaster & Protective Coating PainterSkilled worker who abrasive-blasts steel clean and applies anti-corrosion coatings to offshore platforms, storage tanks, pipelines, bridges and ships. You can start after SPM as a helper and must get CIDB's Blaster & Painter competency certificate (SKKP) to work as a skilled tradesperson; coating inspectors later earn industry certifications.Straight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Industrial Electrical & Electronics TechnicianStraight after SPMElectrical Engineering
- Industrial Electronics TechnicianStraight after SPMElectrical Engineering
- Industrial Machinery MechanicStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Jeweller & GoldsmithStraight after SPMCreative Arts & Media
- Lathe & Turning MachinistStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Lift & Escalator TechnicianStraight after SPMElectrical Engineering
- Machinery Maintenance TechnicianStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- MachinistStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Maintenance SupervisorStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Manicurist & PedicuristStraight after SPM
- Mechatronics TechnicianStraight after SPMElectrical Engineering
- MillwrightStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Mobile Phone Repair TechnicianDiagnoses and fixes smartphones and tablets, replacing screens, batteries, charging ports and board components and solving software faults, at service centres, phone shops or their own kiosk. Short GIATMARA and TVET courses leading to SKM Level 2 or 3 are the usual way in, and many graduates open their own shop.Straight after SPMElectrical Engineering
- Motorcycle MechanicStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Painter & DecoratorStraight after SPMArchitecture & Built Environment
- Pest Control TechnicianStraight after SPM
- PlastererStraight after SPMArchitecture & Built Environment
- PlumberInstalls and maintains piping, water and sanitation systems for homes and buildings. Entry via TVET/ILP certificate; steady demand from construction and property maintenance, with self-employment common at mid-career.Straight after SPMSourced pay
- Rail Signal & Track Switch TechnicianStraight after SPMElectrical Engineering
- Rebar Worker (Bar Bender)Straight after SPMArchitecture & Built Environment
- RiggerStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- RooferStraight after SPMArchitecture & Built Environment
- Rope Access TechnicianWorks at height on ropes to inspect, repair, clean or paint oil and gas platforms, tanks, bridges and high-rise buildings, usually combined with a trade such as welding, painting or NDT inspection. Entry is through a short IRATA Level 1 course (about 5 days) from age 18.Straight after SPMRising demandMechanical Engineering
- Scaffold ErectorBuilds and dismantles the temporary scaffolding used on high-rise sites, factories and oil and gas plants, following strict safety rules. SPM leavers can train on CIDB or NIOSH scaffolding courses (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced) to get a competency certificate and register as a skilled worker.Straight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Security & Fire Alarm InstallerStraight after SPMElectrical Engineering
- Sewing Machine OperatorStraight after SPMCreative Arts & Media
- Sheet Metal WorkerStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Stationary Engineer & Boiler OperatorStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Structural Iron & Steel WorkerStraight after SPMArchitecture & Built Environment
- Structural Metal FabricatorStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- Tailor & DressmakerStraight after SPMCreative Arts & Media
- Telecommunications Line TechnicianStraight after SPMElectrical Engineering
- Tile & Stone SetterStraight after SPMArchitecture & Built Environment
- Tyre Repairer & FitterStraight after SPMMechanical Engineering
- WelderJoins and fabricates metal for construction, shipyards and oil & gas facilities. Internationally recognised certifications (AWS, API) let experienced welders earn far above the local average, including overseas contracts.Straight after SPMSourced payMechanical Engineering
Frequently asked questions
What careers are there in Skilled Trades?
The 62 Skilled Trades careers on Degreemate include Air-Con & Refrigeration Technician, Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME), Automotive Body Repairer, Automotive Technician, Barber and Beauty Therapist. The full list is on this page.
Can I start a Skilled Trades career straight after SPM?
Yes, for 59 of the 62 careers, through a certificate, diploma or TVET training, for example Air-Con & Refrigeration Technician, Automotive Body Repairer, Automotive Technician and Barber. The rest need a longer route, such as a degree after pre-university.
What should I study for a Skilled Trades career?
The fields of study that most often lead here are Mechanical Engineering, Architecture & Built Environment, Electrical Engineering and Creative Arts & Media. Each career page lists the related UPU and MQA-accredited programmes where the catalogues have them.
How much do Skilled Trades careers pay in Malaysia?
5 of these 62 careers carry a sourced Malaysian salary band, shown on each career's page with its source and date. For the rest we show no figure, because there is no Malaysian source we can cite.
Which Skilled Trades careers are in demand?
Careers rated as rising demand: Rope Access Technician. Demand is only rated for featured careers that have a Malaysian labour-market source.