A Malaysian retail worker claims how he earns up to RM10,000 monthly, challenging claims that retail has “no future”.

OFTEN, there is an assumption that working in retail, especially at entry to mid-level positions, indicates a lack of a fulfilling career path, particularly in financial terms.

However, one Malaysian man claims that it is possible to earn up to RM10,000 a month in retail, drawing from his 14 years of experience across eight major retail brands since completing secondary school.

“It may look like a job that people always look down on. People always think there’s ‘no future’. But Alhamdulillah, so far it’s been okay,” he said in a viral Threads post.

He later explained the reason behind his post, claiming that an office worker had “looked down” on his profession and tried to persuade him to join her company instead.

He compared the realities of working in retail and in an office environment, stating that he is able to earn significantly more in retail.

“She said her office pays higher. RM3,000 a month,” he remarked.

The man also highlighted a stark reality of retail work, noting that as he grows older, standing for long hours has begun to take a toll on his legs.

In the comments section, he clarified that RM2,500 is the highest salary typically offered to someone with no experience. However, he said he is able to negotiate a higher basic salary due to his experience, emphasising that a substantial portion of his income comes from commission earned during his shifts.

Many netizens agreed with his sentiments, arguing that working in retail does not necessarily mean having a poor career trajectory.

“Whoever said working in retail means having no future is lying. It’s because of my retail experience that I managed to land a job at a multinational corporation and get paid in US dollars,” one user said.

“I learnt a lot about management cycles and human behaviour when I worked in retail. Educating myself on those things helped me climb the corporate ladder,” commented another.

However, some argued that retail jobs may lack long-term stability, potentially placing one’s future at risk.

“Retail work is gig work. It’s not for the long term. There are not many transferable skills and you can be easily replaced. If you stay in this industry for too long, your future is hangs in the balance,” another netizen said.

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 The Sun Malaysia