(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
“Yawn”
“bored”
“Yawn”
you good , me good and everyone good.
you goof, me goof and everyone goof
“yawn”
keep reading and comment..since everyone like to reply or response to this kind of pple..so you guys/gals dun mind reading what i am typing…i will keep typing since u like to read and response to nonsense..
“yawn” bored? keep it going…since pple do like to use this forum for it actual purpose but to flame or someone to bluff or boast..same lah…u boast means no substance..kopitiam lah…so unpresidential…ai yoz..so i keep typing..talk is cheap mah…
cheap cheap…lelong lelong..i am a md…own a country..i own the world ..u guys are peanuts..u guys are not as smart as me….like me think what else can i say…hrm..well…
SERIOUSLY…GET A LIFE! or GET A JOB or GO DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE…STILL READING??? wow..
B.O.S.S. -> cute! (shows that I actually read yours.)
is this Singapore Dollar or USD?
I am a Electrical Hardware design engineer in KOREA. 32 years old, have a wife and 1 daughter.
If I take a job in singapore, how much annual salary can I get in full time job?
I visited singapore once, then I feel really nice country in the world.
Is there anybody can advise for me?
If you are singapore people, feel free to contact me
I am yong. available language is English and chinese a little, korean.
My wife can speak chinese as native.
Thank you for your attention
Cell : +82-10-9977-5401
Home : +82-70-8258-5401
Email : [email protected]
Thanks Ronaldo. My job is recession-proof because I am in the government. My current annual salary is definitely more than yours and I am sure my lifetime salary will be as well. I don’t really have to worry about getting another job but sad to say, I think you will.
Christine >
You are naive if you think any job in the world is recession proof.
I don’t worry about my job at all becos to my bosses I am much more of a profit centre than a cost centre.
They can’t afford to lay me off becos I am mainly bringing in the new businesses and contacts and I am capable to handle more than dual roles.
My department is performing well mainly due to my leadership and performance.
So you see, how can they afford to lay me off?
Besides, I also have my own businesses that I run with partners in the food business, yachts business and business consultancy business.
My income spinoff from my own businesses is more than 10 -12K per month at least.
So as you can see, what I earn from my regular job is only half of my total income.
Worse come to worse, even if I were to quit my job, I have more than enough income to sustain myself and my cars.
I am not worried at all.
If you think you are earning more than me, thats good but that means you must be really earning more than roughly 30K a month.
If you are not earning more than 30K a month regularly, then sad to say you are nowhere near me.
Btw I will received 4 months bonuses – 1mth AWS + 3 months
Count the maths and see if you are earning more than me.. (do add my own income from my own businesses too )
🙂
from post 399 above, ronaldo said: “My answer to that is why should I care? I am fairly happy where I am now and I only prove to myself and no one else.
If you think you are as good, you will already know it in your heart.”
ronaldo if so why do you keep defending yourself? since you know (or you think you know) that you are good there’s no need to keep shouting out. Apart from the false statements you keep making (someone pointed out above), your arguments do not seem grounded – as a matter of fact they reek of insecurity.
If I may point out, you don’t think deep down inside you are that good, hence the need to expostulate and brag.
I am not seething with jealousy nor envy, just contributing a bystander’s perspective. It doesn’t matter what you boast about (you can’t prove it here anyway and no one can check), what matters is that your actions differ greatly from your purposed values. Think about it, cheers.
Wow, Ronaldo at merely 28 yr old can earn 30k a mth. That is equavilent to the salary of a HOD director level in a Hospital whom is at least a professor. I think only born in silver spoon or genius can achieve such income (some more self delare reccession proof).
I think you are the best if what you are saying is truth.
Thanks Ronaldo. You are in a very good position if everything you said is true. Go and bless others with your wealth and stop bragging about how rich and how young and how secure you are. Not many people believe you now anyway. All these don’t matter at your death-bed cos’ you can’t take your treasures with you when you go.
All the best.
perhaps christine is working in the admin service? perhaps ronaldo is really wealthy, in a great job, have lots of passive income generating business?
who really knows? take it easy, there will always be wealthier, smarter, more gifted people around.
I can invite you over my yacht if you want.
Dec i am throwing a launch on board my yacht.
Free entry to my pals and invited list.
You just have to pay $500 for entry as with all non-invited associates/ ppl.
It shouldn’t be a problem for you since you are so rich yourself.
Let me know if you keen.
It only costs 500 to rent a yacht for 4 hours complete with serving crew.
you are rather deluded I must say.
I invite you to join mine at half price 🙂
wah so cheap?
Ronaldo, since you are so rich, don’t be so stingy by making ppl who is willing to celebrate with you to paid the whole price for renting the whole boat la.
Yeah if you have an AMEX platinum reserve card you can rent the yacht for 500 with serving crew and snacks and drinks
if ronaldo claims his salary >12K a month he should be eligible for that card
Ronaldo don’t need that card to rent a yacht. He already has his own yacht. And if you want to ‘join’ that [edited by admin], just pay him $500.
To ronaldo —> I am willing to pay $500 to be part of your party in december. In fact, I’ll pay more that if it’s necessary. So when’s the party? How do I recognize your beautiful boat? Any spec? Meeting a succesful guy like you is like meeting a small Warren Buffet. THANKS!!
Hi Ronaldo, I am also willing to pay and go. Can you give me a address for me to send you the cheque? Can you also me a an invitation card? WHen is the party? If i bring a partner, do i get a discount? I get sea sick easily, so will the yatch be stationary or sailing? Let me know so i can get the necessary medication.
wah let’s make this a class excursion, oops i mean celebration of Ronaldo’s success!
Interesting thread, especially contributions from Ronaldo. He shall start writing a book; or perhaps it’s already in the market. If you are as what you storied, I don’t think you’ll care about arguing or wasting your time in useless defense like what you did. Wake up, liar!
I’m wasting my time commenting here.. all [edited by admin] & underachievers.
Ron
Hey Ronaldo, we maybe underachievers. But you have been the focal point of all our jokes and jibes! hahaha….thanks for being a good sport dude.
Dear Ronaldo,
These people are doubting you, but not me. I’m your biggest fan. So, I’ll recommend your boats to my boss who is interested in yachts… (Business for you $$$). Can I join your dec party? You won’t mind if I take a photo of your boat to show my boss right? Do I have to pay downpayment for the entrance fee? Details? THANKS!!
Any news? THANKS!
Sorry guys, no yacht party at ronaldo’s boat cos some of my boys hijacked it while he was chilling out in sentosa.. Also, no reply from ronaldo because he too, has been taken hostage by my boys .Ransom for this guy is so high that none of u underachivers can afford. Only a government bailout can save him.
lol..and you din invite us to the party
Haha whatever you all say.
Go ahead and slog for whatever amount of salaries you all get.
Enjoy!
Cheerios
Ron
Ronaldo sounds like a big time loser. I don’t believe that he is a high income earner. Probably some average joe trying to play punk on this website. Hahaha..
he’s entertainment mate..quote “focal point of all our jokes and jibes”. Sugar’s pretty much on the money.
Hi Ronaldo,
Anymore invites or anything else to say?? I need some more things to make fun of! Either you contribute, or you leave this forum. Go somewhere else to show off. Or you also can change your nick to something else and start over again…in any case its still fun for us, underacheivers. Waiting for you….:)
a pity in this website there exists lots of people who can’t earn >$12K per month and yet try to behave like they are high disposal income earners and are full of themselves with noses up in the air.
There’s a huge difference between reality and reel life.
Ponder this.
Cheers!
Ron
Great news to me in this depressed market for people like you.
My company’s turnover is greater than projected and next yrs forcast is better than this year’s.
I’m expecting a 20% – 25% increment next year.:)
Cheers!
Ron
Good for you! Getting one step closer to the big leagues eh?
That 12k you keep waving around is getting old, really. Hopefully your salary will be increased to at least 15k (25%).
Good for you ronaldo. Unlike many ppl here, I knew that you can always make it. …Can I join the yacht party this coming december? Since you’ll be getting a pay rise, can u then give me a discount (just kidding)? Keep me updated ya! THANKS!!
Ronaldo
Hi Ronaldo,
Can you teach me how to get 12k salary? I try so hard but cannot. Can you give some tips? reach 10k i also happy. I am begging you almighty
How to get 12k salary? In salary.sg you can get 50k salary if you want 😛
(Not to mention yachts, rubbing shoulders with the elites, etc. etc.)
Real life? Donno leh. Only Ronaldo can tell you… hahaha…
Ronaldo….quick post something!! all of us are waiting for you advise on how to get 12k…we are all poorly paid…quick!!!!
Hey ronaldo. Do you play in the EPL? Maybe that’s the secret to getting $12k/mth. Damn freaking loser. My uncle who is a multi millionaire is a businessman. I won’t see him coming to such forums to waste his time like you. The really rich guys don’t need to flaunt their wealths through all these pathetic forums. Their material wealth speaks all for themselves. In my humble opinion, you are truly a freaking loser. I love to see you cry wolf. Damn comical. You should change line to become a comedian. Perhaps you ll earn more money that way. But in the meantime, get lost dude. Haha
Hahaha.. It would be more appropriate teling your mom what you said.
Btw where does she works?
Geylang client servicing?
Maybe ur mom will cry wolf .. or would her clients wolf wolf instead..
The story will unfold when you ask ur mom tonight..
i’m so glad i am in my job. Great perks and all..
Good luck to the rest of you all. Hope none of you wil get retrenched 🙂
Cheers!
🙂
Wow that’s a change. Calling somebody’s Mom a geylang worker? He struck a nerve eh?
Usually when somebody tell you your 12k is nothing you’ll start going on and on about the perks lah, can play golf at 3pm or whatever lah, or your friend got yachts lah, you’re only a tender young age of 28 lah… you know, the usual broken record drill. (I guess now you’ve added the “my job is very recession-proof” to your repertoire, so that’s a nice change, thanks.)
Hey Ronaldo, i realised you have never answered any of my post to you! Why is it? I asked about the yatch….now i am asking you to give me some advise on earning 12k a month…which i will never reach without your mighty advice. please ignore the rest and just tell me.
ronaldo, how do you earn your 12k/mth with all the perks? Do you work as a gigolo serving old grandmas? Hahaha.. Loser.. i can imagine the old and fat rich tai tai throwing a stash of cash into your face after a good romp. 😀 Btw, your job as a gigolo is recession proof.
Don’t insult us by saying that we throw cash onto ronaldo’s face… i dun mind if you say that we throw $ to others ppl face. U can say that we throw into some ugly looking dude’s face, u can even say that we throw onto a trolls face. BUT NEVER ASSOCIATE US WITH A DISGUSTING GUY LIKE Ronaldo!
I already said, Ronaldo had been captured by my boys of the coast of sentosa. How’s he gonna respond to u guys? … Only being a pirate is recession proof.
Give Ronaldo a break guys, after all he’s the President of his own nation – IMAGINATION. He ought to be cos he says he’s in marketing line. Hahaha.
time to move on and get a life! It’s 2008 now, and this is an old thread showcasing the pai kah ronaldo. Free agents earn 12k a month.
Am shocked that the wages shown is not that accurate. Being A nurse in Singapore for so many years, the cut off points is not 4k and above. In fact the mthly pay is normally range from 1.3k to 2k for the majority even after wking for avg 7 yrs. If u r using the info from the end of year…the CPF includes the bonus part and even the new year ang bao given to the staffs by the employer.
I am suprise in the 2007 ranking that ship master and aircraft captain is not on the list. Now the salary of ship master for Filipino, my company is paying USD 7,500 per month, equivalent to S$10,875 per month.
While for Singaporean and Malaysian, we are paying USD 9,500 per month, equivalent to S$13,775. One year work 8 months onboard and rest 4 months. Salary 12 months + 1 month AWS + 3 months bonus. If include bonus and AWS, it will come to S$18,366 per month for Singaporean and Malaysian. This salary is apply to container ship, tankers and AHT. For chemical tanker and LNG, salary will be 30% higher. Further, working onboard Singapore flag ship, all salary is tax exempted. I am welcome more Singaporean to go to sailing.
heyy i’m shocked by the pay of sailors dude 😀
well do you have any idea of the pay of pilots?
would it be around the same as a sailor? Would anyone mind answering this? I’m actually looking forward to David’s answer if he is still here 😀