Members of Parliament, an Overpaid Job According to Indonesian Citizens

YouGov conducted a survey on the types of jobs in Indonesia that the public considers to be overpaid.

The results showed that members of parliament at the DPR (House of Representatives) or DPRD (Regional House of Representatives) level ranked first, with 90% of respondents believing they receive a higher salary than they should. 

This proportion consists of 82% who believe they are paid far too much and 8% who say they are paid slightly too much.

In line with this, political party members came in second, with 81% of respondents considering them overpaid. 

Below is a list of the top 10 professions in Indonesia considered overpaid, according to a YouGov survey in September 2025:

• DPR/DPRD Members: 90%

• Political party members: 81%

• Actors/actresses: 70%

• Social media influencers: 62%

• Lawyers: 62%

• Singers: 58%

• Police officers: 55%

• Doctors (general practitioners and specialists): 48%

• Bankers: 41%

• Members of community organizations (ormas): 37%

Meanwhile, farmers are considered the most undervalued profession, with 75% believing their pay is too low. They are followed by school teachers at 74% and fishermen at 71%. 

"These findings show that professions considered to make the greatest contribution are often underpaid, while professions considered overpaid are perceived to contribute the least," YouGov wrote in its report on Wednesday (1/10/2025). 

The survey involved 2,019 respondents aged 18 and above in Indonesia. Data collection was conducted using questionnaires on the YouGov app from September 15-17, 2025.