Average Salary in Singapore 2023
How much money does a person working in Singapore make?
LOW
2,140
SGD AVERAGE
8,450
SGD HIGH
37,700
SGD
A person working in Singapore typically earns around 8,450 SGD per month. Salaries range from 2,140 SGD (lowest average) to 37,700 SGD (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Distribution of Salaries in Singapore
The median, the maximum, the minimum, and the range
Salary Range
Salaries in Singapore range from 2,140 SGD per month (minimum salary) to 37,700 SGD per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
Median Salary
The median salary is 8,790 SGD per month, which means that half (50%) of the population are earning less than 8,790 SGD while the other half are earning more than 8,790 SGD. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Percentiles
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of the population are earning less than 4,920 SGD while 75% of them are earning more than 4,920 SGD. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population are earning less than 24,200 SGD while 25% are earning more than 24,200 SGD.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does a person's salary progress over time?
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
Salary Comparison By Education
How does the education level affect your salary?
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a cerificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Singapore costs anywhere from 42,200 Singapore Dollar(s) to 127,000 Singapore Dollar(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on your situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if you can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Salary Comparison By Gender
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Singapore earn 5% more than their female counterparts on avergae across all sectors.
| Male | 8,680 SGD | |
| Female | -5% | 8,270 SGD |
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Singapore
How much are annual salary increments in Singapore? How often do employees get salary raises?
Singapore
Employees in Singapore are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 15 months.
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Annual Increment Rate By Industry 2022
| Banking | 7% | |
| Energy | 5% | |
| Information Technology | 3% | |
| Healthcare | 1% | |
| Travel | 8% | |
| Construction | 6% | |
| Education | 4% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Singapore for the year 2022. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Average Salary Increase Rate by Experience Level
| Junoir Level | 3% - 5% | |
| Mid-Career | 6% - 9% | |
| Senior Level | 10% - 15% | |
| Top Management | 15% - 20% |
The difference in increment rates is somehow justified because employers put more effort to retain more experienced staff since they are harder to acquire than less experienced ones.
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Bonus and Incentive Rates in Singapore
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
Share This Chart Tweet Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/singapore/annual-salary-bonus-rate-singapore.jpg
44% of surveyed staff in Singapore reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 56% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | 56% | |
| No Bonus | 44% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
Bonus Rates Comparison by Career Field
| Finance | High | |
| Architecture | High | |
| Sales | High | |
| Business Development | High | |
| Marketing / Advertising | High | |
| Information Technology | Moderate | |
| Healthcare | Moderate | |
| Insurance | Moderate | |
| Customer Service | Moderate | |
| Human Resources | Moderate | |
| Construction | Low | |
| Transport | Low | |
| Hospitality | Low |
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Salaries for specific job categories
Choose a job category to explore specific salary details
Accounting and FinanceAdministration / Reception / SecretarialAdvertising / Grapic Design / EventsAirlines / Aviation / Aerospace / DefenseArchitectureAutomotiveBankingBilingualBusiness PlanningCare Giving and Child CareCleaning and HousekeepingConstruction / Building / InstallationCounselingCourier / Delivery / Transport / DriversCustomer Service and Call CenterElectrical and Electronics TradesEngineeringEnvironmentalExecutive and ManagementFacilities / Maintenance / RepairFactory and ManufacturingFashion and ApparelFitness / Hair / BeautyFood / Hospitality / Tourism / CateringFundraising and Non ProfitGardening / Farming / FishingGovernment and DefenceHealth and MedicalHuman ResourcesImport and ExportIndependent JobsInformation TechnologyInsuranceLaw Enforcement / Security / FireLegalMarketingMedia / Broadcasting / Arts / EntertainmentOil / Gas / Energy / MiningPet CarePharmaceutical and BiotechnologyPhotographyPublic RelationsPublishing and PrintingPurchasing and InventoryQuality Control and ComplianceReal EstateRecreation and SportsSales Retail and WholesaleScience and Technical ServicesTeaching / EducationTelecommunicationSalaries for popular jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Accounting and Finance | |
| Accountant | 5,300 SGD |
| Accounting Assistant | 4,130 SGD |
| Accounting Manager | 12,600 SGD |
| Bookkeeper | 3,640 SGD |
| Chartered Accountant | 6,880 SGD |
| Corporate Treasurer | 11,200 SGD |
| Financial Analyst | 10,200 SGD |
| Financial Manager | 16,200 SGD |
| Internal Auditor | 7,470 SGD |
Administration / Reception / Secretarial | |
| Administrative Assistant | 4,200 SGD |
| Office Manager | 7,290 SGD |
| Receptionist | 3,980 SGD |
| Secretary | 3,710 SGD |
Advertising / Grapic Design / Events | |
| Art Director | 7,790 SGD |
| Creative Director | 7,570 SGD |
| Graphic Designer | 5,220 SGD |
| Photographer | 4,560 SGD |
Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense | |
| Aerospace Engineer | 10,200 SGD |
| Air Traffic Controller | 8,760 SGD |
| Flight Attendant | 5,250 SGD |
| Pilot | 14,200 SGD |
Architecture | |
| Architect | 9,670 SGD |
| CAD Drafter | 4,050 SGD |
Automotive | |
| Mechanic | 3,050 SGD |
| Service Advisor | 5,560 SGD |
Banking | |
| Bank Branch Manager | 13,900 SGD |
| Teller | 3,140 SGD |
Bilingual | |
| Teacher | 5,850 SGD |
| Translator | 6,880 SGD |
Business Planning | |
| Business Analyst | 10,200 SGD |
| Business Development Manager | 12,000 SGD |
| Project Manager | 10,100 SGD |
Care Giving and Child Care | |
| Nanny | 3,200 SGD |
| Nursery Teacher | 3,130 SGD |
Construction / Building / Installation | |
| Civil Engineer | 7,320 SGD |
| Construction Project Manager | 13,100 SGD |
| Health and Safety Officer | 3,570 SGD |
Customer Service and Call Center | |
| Call Center Representative | 3,010 SGD |
| Customer Service Manager | 10,400 SGD |
| Customer Service Representative | 2,890 SGD |
Engineering | |
| Civil Engineer | 7,520 SGD |
| Electrical Engineer | 7,920 SGD |
| Engineer | 7,560 SGD |
| Mechanical Engineer | 7,920 SGD |
Executive and Management | |
| Chief Executive Officer | 18,300 SGD |
| Chief Financial Officer | 17,000 SGD |
| General Manager | 13,500 SGD |
| Project Manager | 9,430 SGD |
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering | |
| Chef | 4,940 SGD |
| Executive Chef | 5,670 SGD |
| Hotel Manager | 14,900 SGD |
| Receptionist | 2,880 SGD |
| Travel Agent | 4,980 SGD |
| Waiter / Waitress | 2,480 SGD |
Health and Medical | |
| Dentist | 18,200 SGD |
| Dietitian | 15,300 SGD |
| Laboratory Technician | 6,290 SGD |
| Nurse | 6,190 SGD |
Human Resources | |
| Human Resources Manager | 12,600 SGD |
| Human Resources Officer | 4,950 SGD |
Information Technology | |
| Computer Technician | 5,830 SGD |
| Database Administrator | 7,900 SGD |
| Developer / Programmer | 7,950 SGD |
| Information Technology Manager | 13,500 SGD |
| Network Engineer | 6,700 SGD |
Law Enforcement / Security / Fire | |
| Police Officer | 4,970 SGD |
Legal | |
| Attorney | 15,600 SGD |
| Legal Assistant | 4,180 SGD |
Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment | |
| Journalist | 8,600 SGD |
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology | |
| Biomedical Engineer | 6,960 SGD |
| Pharmacist | 9,990 SGD |
Sales Retail and Wholesale | |
| Cashier | 2,930 SGD |
| Sales Manager | 13,200 SGD |
| Sales Representative | 4,950 SGD |
Teaching / Education | |
| Elementary School Teacher | 5,520 SGD |
| Secondary School Teacher | 6,370 SGD |
Average Hourly Wage in Singapore
49 SGD per hourThe average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Singapore is 49 SGD. This means that the average person in Singapore earns approximately 49 SGD for every worked hour.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Singapore earn 5% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
| Private Sector | 8,270 SGD | |
| Public Sector | +5% | 8,670 SGD |
