Revealing the top 5 countries with the highest average monthly income in Southeast Asia (ASEAN) — a region attracting global investors due to its abundance of natural resources, population size, and strong growth and development potential, especially in the technology industry, which continues to draw attention and investment from major global tech companies. 

         From ASEAN’s regional cooperation policy, which was jointly signed to promote a single market and production base — including investment, goods and services, as well as skilled labor and free trade — the movement of skilled workers among member countries has become easier in 8 professional fields: 

• Engineering
• Surveying
• Architecture
• Medicine
• Dentistry
• Nursing
• Accounting
• Tourism / Hospitality

        In the case of certified professional occupations, workers can freely move and work across ASEAN countries without restrictions. The agreed professions include doctors, nurses, accountants, architects, and engineers. However, working abroad or hiring foreign professionals to work in Thailand requires obtaining a Work Permit, which varies depending on the labor laws and regulations of each ASEAN country. 

importance to work permit of working abroad 

• Things you must know before working abroad work permit  What is it? 

A Work Permit is a legal document issued by a government authority to a foreign national who wishes to work in a country of which they are not a citizen. In the case of Thailand, the work permit is issued by the Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour, allowing foreign nationals to work legally in Thailand. อ่านต่อ คลิก !

• Why must there be? Work Permit ?

• In many countries, including Thailand, employing foreign nationals without a Work Permit is considered a violation of the law and may result in penalties for both the employer and the employee. Furthermore, having a Work Permit ensures that the employment of foreign workers is conducted in a legal and transparent manner. It also allows for the verification of an individual's right to work in the country. Click to read more! 

Revealing the top 5 highest-income countries in ASEAN — Thailand ranks 2nd after Singapore.

 Time Doctor has provided interesting information stating that The average annual salary in Asia is around USD 12,883 (approximately THB 473,000). Although salary levels vary among ASEAN countries, there are still many opportunities for residents to achieve a high standard of living overall.

Next, Time Camp ranked ASEAN countries by their average salaries from highest to lowest. FDI will take you to explore the top 5 countries — let’s see which ones made the list!

Rank 1: Singapore

Singapore is one of the strongest economies in ASEAN, offering the highest average salary. As a financial and technology hub, it attracts highly skilled professionals from around the world. The average monthly salary in Singapore is 232,900 THB, significantly higher than the global average.

Rank 2: Thailand

In the ASEAN region, Thailand has the second-largest economy and is well-suited for outsourcing due to its competitive salary levels compared to other countries. According to Time Camp, the average salary for new graduates in Thailand ranges from 20,000–25,000 THB, while mid-career employees earn between 50,000–100,000 THB on average.

Rank 3: Brunei

Despite having a relatively small population, Brunei is known for its abundant natural resources, especially oil and natural gas, which contribute to high salaries for its residents. The country also has a relatively high standard of living. According to Salary Explorer, the average monthly income in Brunei is 87,700 THB.

Rank 4: Malaysia

Malaysia is another ASEAN country with competitive salaries and offers attractive job opportunities across various sectors for residents, which increases the overall income level. The average monthly salary in Malaysia is 51,200 THB.

Rank 5: Philippines

The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies in ASEAN and a top outsourcing destination due to its skilled workforce and competitive wages. The average monthly salary in the Philippines is approximately 28,500 THB.

Average Monthly Salary in ASEAN (Rank 6–10) 

Source: TimeCamp

Steps for Applying for a Work Permit in Thailand and Other Countries 

Working abroad or for foreigners working in Thailand requires obtaining a Work Permit, which varies across ASEAN countries depending on each nation’s labor laws and regulations.

Steps for applying for a Work Permit in Thailand

1. Work Permit Application

• Employers in Thailand must submit a Work Permit application for foreign workers through the Department of Employment (Department of Employment) or Ministry of Labour
• The application must include various documents such as an employment contract, a company certificate, and relevant supporting documents.

2. Required Documents 

• Passport
• Passport-sized photo
• Employment contract.
• Employer certification document
• Educational qualifications and work experience (if applicable)
• Evidence of workplace and other related documents

Sample documents for each type of work permit อ่านต่อ 

3. Health Check-Up

Applicants must undergo a health check-up to confirm that they do not have any prohibited diseases for employment in Thailand, such as communicable diseases.

4. Issuance of Work Permit

After submission and document review, the Department of Employment will issue a Work Permit to the applicant. Once approved, the applicant is authorized to work in Thailand according to the job category specified in the Work Permit.

Documents and detailed procedures — read more, click! 

Applying for a Work Permit for Foreign Countries 

This article will discuss the four ASEAN countries with the highest average monthly income. Each country has its own specific legal requirements and procedures.

1. Singapore

• Types of Work Permit: Singapore has several types of Work Permits, such as:
  • Employment Pass (EP): For highly skilled individuals, such as managers or degree-qualified professionals
  • S Pass: For semi-skilled workers, such as those working in the technology industry
  • purposes, and a Work Permit is the: For workers employed in the construction and manufacturing sectors
  • EntrePass: For individuals who wish to invest in and start a business in Singapore
• Application process:
  • Employers in Singapore must submit applications through Singapore’s online systems, such as Employment Pass Services or EP Online.
  • Prepare basic documents such as an employment certificate, educational qualifications, and other related documents.
  • The review process may take 1–3 weeks, depending on the type of work permit.
• Requirements:
  • Must be employed in an essential position and have no criminal record in Singapore.
  • Applicants must meet the qualifications for the specified type (e.g., EP requires a minimum salary of about 4,500 SGD).

2. Brunei

• Types of Work Permit:
  • Employment Pass: For individuals employed in positions requiring specialized skills.
  • Temporary Employment Pass: For short-term employment.
• Application process:
  • Employers in Brunei must submit an application. via an online system of the Ministry of Manpower of Brunei
  • Documents such as an employment certificate, educational qualifications, and others are required.
• Requirements:
  • Aged 18–55 years
  • Must demonstrate that no local worker possesses the same skill set
  • Applicants wishing to work in Brunei must have no criminal record in the country.

3. Malaysia

• Types of Work Permit:
  • Employment Pass: For individuals employed in high-skilled positions
  • S Pass: For individuals with mid-level skills
  • purposes, and a Work Permit is the: For workers working in the construction and manufacturing sectors
• Application process:
  • Employers must submit an application through Online system of the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia (Jabatan Tenaga Kerja)
  • Applicants must have basic documents such as educational qualifications, an employment certificate, and a photo.
  • The approval of a Work Permit in Malaysia may take several weeks.
• Requirements:
  • Employment must comply with Malaysian government regulations, such as hiring foreign workers only in industries that require specific skills.
  • Applicants must have no criminal record in Malaysia.

4. Philippines

• Types of Work Permit:
  • Special Work Permit (SWP): For short-term employment (not exceeding 6 months)
  • Alien Employment Permit (AEP): For long-term employment in the Philippines
• Application process:
  • Those wishing to work in the Philippines must apply. Through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Employers in the Philippines must submit an application.
  • Required documents include an employment certificate, educational qualifications, medical examination results, and job application documents.
• Requirements:
  • Applying for a Work Permit must prove that there are no local workers with the same skills.
  • Request AEP The application must be submitted no more than 3 months before starting work.

Precautions when applying for a Work Permit

• Check qualifications: Each country has different requirements regarding age, education, and job position.
• Government review: Applying for a Work Permit in some countries may take longer if additional verification from relevant authorities is required.
• Renewal: Some countries allow Work Permit renewal, but it must be re-applied for and approved again.

In summary, applying for or renewing a Work Permit in each country must go through review by the relevant authorities, and the process varies depending on the type of job and employment status.

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