(5 July 2008 – See the 2008 edition of this list.)
(8 August – Updated with ranking of 3rd-quartile gross wages.)
This is the 2007 edition of my annual list of 100 best-paying jobs in Singapore. It is compiled based on data from MOM Occupational Wages Survey, which is published as part of the Report on Wages in Singapore 2006.
The 2006 edition of this post.
The survey covered more than 180,000 individuals, and their wage information is collected from CPF.
But note that the wage data do not include performance bonuses, profit sharing and stock options.
Without further ado, here’s the list of the top 100 jobs based on the 75th-percentile gross basic monthly income (I don’t use the mean or median income as I want my list to better reflect the higher earners in the top jobs):
- Managing director – $20,000
- Commodities futures broker – $17,084
- Financial futures dealer and broker – $16,667
- General Manager – $15,417
- Foreign exchange dealer and broker – $13,024
- Company director – $12,680
- Securities dealer and broker – $12,500
- Specialised surgeon – $12,000
- Risk management manager – $10,800
- Creative director (Advertising) – $10,800
- Legal service manager – $9,592
- Treasury manager – $9,050
- Operations manager (Finance) – $9,000
- Legal officer – $8,975
- Research and development manager – $7,696
- Engineering manager – $7,543
- Budgeting and financial accounting manager – $7,525
- Training manager – $7,502
- Business development manager – $7,500
- Computer and information systems manager – $7,473
- Technical manager – $7,400
- Corporate planning manager – $7,350
- Advocate and solicitor – $7,300
- Quality assurance manager – $7,210
- Personnel / Human resource manager – $7,205
- Computer operations and network manager – $7,200
- Marketing manager – $7,004
- Business management consultant – $6,933
- Advertising and public relations manager – $6,876
- Procurement manager – $6,833
- Editor (Newspapers and periodicals) – $6,798
- Editor (Radio, television and video) – $6,776
- Biologist – $6,710
- Chemical engineer (Petroleum) – $6,708
- Credit analyst – $6,667
- Customer service manager – $6,662
- Logistics manager – $6,558
- Manufacturing plant and production manager – $6,513
- Advertising copywriter – $6,500
- Marine superintendent engineer – $6,480
- Building architect – $6,400
- Lawyer (except advocate and solicitor) – $6,300
- Sales manager – $6,248
- Premises maintenance manager – $6,220
- Business analyst – $6,192
- Flight operations officer – $6,003
- Operations manager – $6,000
- Transport operations manager – $6,000
- Administration manager – $5,967
- Hydrographic surveyor – $5,819
- Shipping manager – $5,750
- Industrial health, safety and environment engineer – $5,700
- Property / Estate manager – $5,300
- Building and construction project manager – $5,270
- Financial analyst – $5,210
- Clearing and forwarding agent – $5,200
- Telecommunications engineer – $5,185
- Instrumentation engineer – $5,136
- Treasury officer – $5,100
- Aeronautical engineer – $5,063
- Information technology auditor – $5,047
- Database administrator – $4,985
- Warehousing manager – $4,900
- Electronics engineer – $4,759
- Medical pathologist – $4,738
- Information technology security specialist – $4,635
- Chemist – $4,605
- Systems designer and analyst – $4,600
- Network systems and data communication analyst – $4,415
- Materials engineer – $4,414
- Accountant – $4,380
- Production engineer – $4,370
- Biomedical engineer – $4,361
- Structural engineer – $4,350
- Civil engineer – $4,350
- Journalist – $4,350
- General physician – $4,344
- Research officer – $4,309
- Mechanical engineer – $4,279
- Executive secretary – $4,254
- Assistant civil and structural engineer – $4,244
- Chemical engineer – $4,235
- Translator – $4,205
- Software engineer – $4,200
- Application programmer – $4,175
- Power generation and distribution engineer – $4,170
- QC engineer – $4,150
- Chemical engineer (Petrochemicals) – $4,146
- Automotive engineer – $4,139
- Electrical engineer – $4,126
- Semi-conductor engineer – $4,100
- Statistical officer – $4,063
- Market research analyst – $4,057
- Computer engineer – $4,040
- CAD CAM engineer – $4,038
- Manufacturing engineer – $4,028
- Naval architect – $4,000
- Librarian – $4,000
- Specialised nurse – $4,000
- Medical diagnostic radiographer – $3,993
This is the ranking table based on 75th-percentile gross monthly income (as opposed to basic monthly income):
- Financial futures dealer and broker – $23,517
- Managing director – $20,775
- Specialised surgeon – $19,100
- Commodities futures broker – $17,084
- General Manager – $17,000
- Company director – $13,490
- Foreign exchange dealer and broker – $13,334
- Securities dealer and broker – $13,000
- Creative director (Advertising) – $10,800
- Risk management manager – $10,800
- Hydrographic surveyor – $10,522
- Legal service manager – $10,000
- Treasury manager – $9,724
- Operations manager (Finance) – $9,450
- Legal officer – $9,394
- Training manager – $8,240
- Business development manager – $8,000
- Research and development manager – $7,890
- Budgeting and financial accounting manager – $7,850
- Engineering manager – $7,762
- Technical manager – $7,706
- Corporate planning manager – $7,700
- Quality assurance manager – $7,700
- Computer and information systems manager – $7,626
- Advocate and solicitor – $7,590
- Computer operations and network manager – $7,577
- Personnel / Human resource manager – $7,534
- Logistics manager – $7,343
- Marketing manager – $7,315
- Customer service manager – $7,198
- Procurement manager – $7,190
- Business management consultant – $7,152
- Chemical engineer (Petroleum) – $7,095
- Sales manager – $7,050
- Advertising and public relations manager – $6,900
- Manufacturing plant and production manager – $6,894
- Aeronautical engineer – $6,876
- Editor (Newspapers and periodicals) – $6,798
- Editor (Radio, television and video) – $6,776
- Biologist – $6,752
- Credit analyst – $6,667
- Premises maintenance manager – $6,520
- Advertising copywriter – $6,500
- Building architect – $6,500
- Marine superintendent engineer – $6,480
- Lawyer (except advocate and solicitor) – $6,400
- Industrial health, safety and environment engineer – $6,362
- Operations manager – $6,340
- Business analyst – $6,206
- Transport operations manager – $6,174
- Shipping manager – $6,100
- Administration manager – $6,070
- Flight operations officer – $6,038
- Aeronautical engineering technician – $5,985
- Treasury officer – $5,904
- Marine engineer – $5,881
- Personal banker – $5,661
- Instrumentation engineer – $5,646
- Building and construction project manager – $5,600
- General physician – $5,579
- Property / Estate manager – $5,456
- Database administrator – $5,374
- Information technology auditor – $5,347
- Telecommunications engineer – $5,336
- Financial analyst – $5,333
- Clearing and forwarding agent – $5,200
- Warehousing manager – $5,000
- Chemist – $4,986
- Naval architect – $4,900
- Chemical engineer (Petrochemicals) – $4,896
- Chemical engineering technician – $4,884
- Materials engineer – $4,853
- Electronics engineer – $4,831
- Medical pathologist – $4,800
- Systems designer and analyst – $4,780
- Information technology security specialist – $4,735
- Chemical engineer – $4,726
- Civil engineer – $4,725
- Mechanical engineer – $4,682
- Production engineer – $4,680
- Real estate agent – $4,647
- Power generation and distribution engineer – $4,622
- Journalist – $4,606
- Structural engineer – $4,600
- After sales service adviser – $4,570
- Network systems and data communication analyst – $4,532
- Sales representative (Technical) – $4,520
- Biomedical engineer – $4,500
- Accountant – $4,499
- Semi-conductor engineer – $4,496
- Application programmer – $4,430
- Research officer – $4,400
- QC engineer – $4,396
- Executive secretary – $4,385
- Electrical engineer – $4,368
- Automotive engineer – $4,360
- Computer engineer – $4,357
- Market research analyst – $4,340
- Software engineer – $4,314
- Specialised nurse – $4,304
The differences between gross and basic wages can be noted from the following, which I quote from the report:
The spread between gross and basic wages was more pronounced among occupations which require payments for overtime, commissions and allowances (e.g. shift, food, housing and transport), such as sales & service workers and blue-collar workers where gross wages were about 15% to 40% higher than basic wages. On the other hand, there was little difference between the basic and gross wages among managers and professionals. Their variable pay usually takes the form of performance bonuses, profit sharing and stock options which are not captured in this survey.
536 Comments
hi i am a fresh frm ns.. how much is average pay for financial consultant?
Hi,need some advice from anyone who can help me.
I passed the ACCA exams-an accounting professional qualification for those who do not know-but been jobless for months. Grades are mediocre.I’m a foreigner from neighbouring country on student pass.Did usual application to countless banks and accounting firms and no reply.Have tried many manufacturing/contruction co located at ulu ulu tuas/jurong for account exec or assistant position but they only want people with experience. Last month I send resume to Singhealth for a position that equire N/O level but even that I cannot get it. How come?Is it becos they think I’m trying to be funny to apply for a job I’m overqualified for? Cos I’m very very very desperate for a job. Everytime I go back my dad always ask me ‘found a job yet?’.Damn stressed.
I am willing to take up admin or clerical roles, or receptionist, or support, or assistant.. I NEED income.Can’t keep on relying on hand-out from family.We are not rich.Flipping classified every fri/sat is making me damn depressed. Don’t even mind being an errand girl in the office in ANY co in ANY industry.
Pls help..I cannot do part-time work or temp or contract cos I need employment pass. Any one in different industry have openings in their co that does not need specific degrees,like admin work?Pls advice which other jobs, if any, I can apply to.I’m even happy with salary of #600-$800 as long I can get a job to tide me over until economy recovers.BIG thanks.
as I know Agilent Tech base salary is about 60k(+/- 20%) for 3-5 years engineer.