I have two lists this year – one for the top jobs across all industries and a separate one specifically for the financial services industry, just to show how skewed the numbers are.
This is the 2009 edition of my annual list(s) of the best 100 jobs in terms of pay (see last year’s edition).
The lists are compiled based on data from the MOM Report on Wages in Singapore 2008.
As with previous years, the numbers reported in the MOM survey excludes performance bonuses, profit sharing and stock options. Even though it’s called a “survey”, actual CPF data is used.
To generate the first list, I look at the third-quartile monthly gross wages of the selected jobs in all industries. Explanation: if you’re at the third-quartile, or 75th-percentile, your pay is higher than 75% of the people.
Here’s the top 100 best-paying jobs across all industries (see also second list below, which is specific to the finance industry):
- Specialised surgeon – $27,977
- Managing director – $26,444
- Personal banker – $20,238
- Commodities futures broker – $19,098
- General manager – $18,068
- Foreign exchange dealer and broker – $17,383
- Company director – $16,025
- Finance sales associate professional – $15,833
- Fund manager – $12,634
- Risk management manager – $12,200
- Treasury manager – $12,000
- Financial futures dealer and broker – $11,667
- Legal service manager – $11,531
- Advocate and solicitor – $11,147
- Business management consultant – $11,000
- Operations manager (Finance) – $10,471
- Legal officer – $10,417
- Computer operations and network manager – $10,238
- Training manager – $10,100
- Corporate planning manager – $9,850
- Computer and information systems manager – $9,800
- Business development manager – $9,770
- Research and development manager – $9,627
- Engineering manager – $9,268
- Sea traffic controller – $9,088
- Marketing manager – $8,917
- Lawyer (except advocate and solicitor) – $8,800
- Budgeting and financial accounting manager – $8,727
- Customer service manager – $8,635
- Personnel / Human resource manager – $8,500
- Technical manager – $8,500
- Quality assurance manager – $8,480
- Procurement manager – $8,400
- Naval architect – $8,300
- University lecturer – $8,282
- Creative director (Advertising) – $8,050
- Sales manager – $8,050
- Chemical engineer (Petroleum) – $7,991
- Chemical engineer (Petrochemicals) – $7,939
- Manufacturing plant and production manager – $7,934
- Instrumentation engineer – $7,831
- Logistics manager – $7,745
- Structural engineer – $7,295
- Network systems and data communication analyst – $7,293
- Advertising and public relations manager – $7,282
- Premises maintenance manager – $7,260
- Information technology security specialist – $7,110
- Chinese physician – $7,043
- Aeronautical engineer – $7,022
- Shipping manager – $7,000
- Business analyst – $6,997
- Medical scientist – $6,875
- Librarian – $6,842
- Property / Estate manager – $6,780
- Financial analyst – $6,667
- Operations manager (Commerce) – $6,660
- Editor (Radio, television and video) – $6,515
- Credit analyst – $6,475
- Database administrator – $6,417
- Computer engineer – $6,407
- Marine superintendent engineer – $6,387
- Transport operations manager – $6,377
- Administration manager – $6,350
- Building and construction project manager – $6,200
- Flight operations officer – $6,157
- Sales representative (Technical) – $6,100
- General physician – $6,085
- Information technology auditor – $6,048
- Securities dealer and broker – $6,000
- Market research analyst – $5,834
- Clearing and forwarding agent – $5,800
- Power generation and distribution engineer – $5,790
- Chemical engineer – $5,708
- Industrial health, safety and environment engineer – $5,700
- Automotive engineer – $5,670
- Chemical engineering technician (Petroleum) – $5,647
- Operations research analyst – $5,611
- Chemical engineering technician (Petrochemicals) – $5,609
- Chief / executive cook – $5,600
- Warehousing manager – $5,550
- Building architect – $5,500
- Systems designer and analyst – $5,500
- Application programmer – $5,495
- Pharmacologist – $5,475
- Speech therapist – $5,407
- Semi-conductor engineer – $5,360
- Stationary plant supervisor and general foreman – $5,353
- Treasury officer – $5,350
- Ship-master – $5,301
- Software engineer – $5,281
- Industrial machinery and tools engineer – $5,250
- Sales representative – $5,237
- Hotel service manager – $5,170
- Production engineer – $5,165
- Network and computer systems administrator – $5,159
- Telecommunications engineer – $5,100
- Advertising copywriter – $5,000
- Civil engineer – $5,000
- Environment health inspector – $5,000
- Soil mechanic and piling engineer – $4,980
This second list contains the best-paying jobs in the financial industry. Compare the top numbers here with those above:
- Managing director – $48,000
- Company director – $23,500
- Legal officer – $23,033
- Personal banker – $20,238
- General manager – $19,700
- Foreign exchange dealer and broker – $17,595
- Lawyer (except advocate and solicitor) – $17,500
- Finance sales associate professional – $15,833
- Fund manager – $13,107
- Risk management manager – $13,000
- Computer operations and network manager – $12,762
- Engineering manager – $12,718
- Treasury manager – $12,000
- Financial futures dealer and broker – $11,667
- Quality assurance manager – $11,500
- Sales manager – $11,367
- Corporate planning manager – $10,969
- Training manager – $10,834
- Legal service manager – $10,797
- Operations manager (Finance) – $10,486
- Personnel / Human resource manager – $9,940
- Business development manager – $9,918
- Auditor (Accounting) – $9,750
- Market research analyst – $9,750
- Computer and information systems manager – $9,392
- Budgeting and financial accounting manager – $9,300
- Business management consultant – $9,167
- Marketing manager – $9,000
- Customer service manager – $8,342
- Software engineer – $8,309
- Database administrator – $8,300
- Premises maintenance manager – $8,175
- Operations manager (Commerce) – $8,000
- Network systems and data communication analyst – $7,762
- Administration manager – $7,711
- Credit analyst – $7,584
- Business analyst – $7,500
- Financial analyst – $7,500
- Property / Estate manager – $7,300
- Information technology security specialist – $7,084
- Network and computer systems administrator – $6,713
- Application programmer – $6,463
- Systems designer and analyst – $6,272
- Securities dealer and broker – $6,000
- Advertising and public relations manager – $5,811
- Corporate planning / affairs executive – $5,500
- Executive secretary – $5,417
- Treasury officer – $5,350
- Accountant – $4,900
- Civil engineer – $4,841
- Computer systems operator – $4,724
- Actuary – $4,590
- Training officer – $4,583
- Credit officer – $4,520
- Personnel / Human resource officer – $4,520
- Systems programmer – $4,450
- Sales and marketing executive – $4,428
- Management executive – $4,275
- Public relations officer – $4,217
- Bank officer – $4,167
- Insurance sales agent and broker – $4,063
- Graphic designer – $4,004
- Property management executive – $4,000
- Accounts executive – $3,896
- Operations executive – $3,860
- Secretary – $3,835
- Appraiser and valuer – $3,800
- Insurance underwriter – $3,666
- Clerical supervisor – $3,660
- Mechanical engineer – $3,638
- Personnel / Human resource clerk – $3,531
- Customer service executive – $3,461
- Chauffeur – $3,341
- Fire and safety officer – $3,225
- Legal clerk – $3,200
- Billing clerk – $3,042
- Data processing control clerk – $2,909
- Customer service clerk – $2,742
- Cashier – $2,643
- Ledger and accounts clerk – $2,583
- Marketing clerk – $2,550
- Office clerk – $2,481
- Bank clerk – $2,441
- Insurance / Underwriting clerk – $2,399
- Bank teller – $2,307
- Receptionist – $2,300
- Securities clerk – $2,119
- Office / Library attendant – $1,941
- Building maintenance worker – $1,901
- Storekeeper – $1,643
As noted by some people previously, pilots, military jobs, top civil service posts and political appointments are not included in the MOM survey. Does anyone know why?
126 Comments
Does the pay package matter to you? If so, question is, are you willing to put in the efforts, take the risks, and do all it takes to achieve it? Now, most people only see the nice side of things – the big pay package. However, when it comes to the crunch, I’d say that many are really not willing to PAY THE PRICE to achieve it.
I come from a humble family and used to be an engineer. However, I knew I would never command the kind of pay package I would love to have. Knowing that, I moved on and am now a “Finance sales associate professional”. Worked hard and put in my best – just like I did in my previous job. All I can say now is that I’ve made my parents really proud and there is no turning back.
My personal motto in life is, “Life is unfair. You just got to play it to your advantage.” I saw my previous job as a “disadvantaged position”. I hope I don’t offend anyone. Let me make this clear – I still love engineering. Just that it’s not amongst the most rewarding career option in Singapore. I told myself that I just had to seek that “unfair advantage”.
I can’t speak for everyone or even the rest, but my personal experience in my pay differential is quite accurately reflected in the above figures.
Of course, there are other non-quantifiable traits of a job – work-life balance, interests, satisfaction, happiness, colleagues, culture, security, etc. Remember, there is no perfect job. Choose the traits that mean alot more to you, and then ask yourself the question, “am I willing to pay the price of the reward by giving up the other traits of the job?”
I was.
i am sure they’re in malaysian ringgit , lol…
Job number 90 on the Financial Services list: how is a storekeeper part of the financial services industry?
I am 29 this year working in advertising. I would say I got this far because of my hard work and also due to some element of luck good fortune.
I am getting 15K total package a month excluding AWS and performance bonuses.
Do you think I am underpaid?
Cheers!
Ron
no.
My name is also Ronaldo, and i work in sports. I would say i got this far because of my hard work and breathtaking pace on the wings.
I am getting 500k per week with 1-2 year bonuses for good performances. And lots of parties with many hot men.
Do you think i am underpaid?
Cheers!
Ron
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I worked as an engineer and moved into ibanking for the money. The only trouble is you have to work usually with complete fools who frankly have no idea what they are doing or talking about. I had friends with similar experience to myself. I now understand why investment bankers are payed well, its because the job is crap. You work crazy hours and all I did all day was brain numbing modelling and preparing pitch books using bloody PowerPoint which any bright 16 year old could have done. Complete waste of time and brain power and I have no idea why you would need a degree in anything to perform the analyst or associate level work.
After two boring years saving money and with a slightly reduced IQ I did manage to return to engineering. It’s worth baring in mind that my engineering degree was useful for getting a banking job but going back the other way was somewhat a problem since many good engineering firms did not respect my banking experience and I think even looked down on it, so be careful if you are an engineer who thinks he might like to go back. I now appreciate engineering much more this time round. It’s nice to work with genuinely bright but humble individuals instead of the arrogant business school types with half a brain. Remember sometimes it’s really not just about the money 😉
Phil sounds like he is just making up a story to make IBankers sound bad just as he is not earning that kind of money in engineering.
The sad local grad above who thinks the farmers enrolled in local universities can claim to have any ounce of exposure, experience or rights to an overseas education is pathetic. So sad, really.
The sad local grad above thinks the farmers enrolled in local universities and going for the pathetic 6 mth exchange programs their pathetic schools beg for can claim to have an ounce of exposure to an an overseas education. So sad, pathetic, really. Hahaha
I wished I could have been a brain Surgeon but didn’t have the brains 🙁 I do work in banking and kind of agree with Phil. That said I do think some of the work is more stimulating then he makes it out to be, well to me it is anyway.
Wats the salary chart to u :
when u r 16yo?(‘O’ level)
when u r 19yo? ( ORD)
When u r 21-25yo (settling works, or further studies)
When u r 25-30yo (a few years working n having ur 1/2 fulfilled life,’and it’s still always 1/2 fulfilled as the list to it’, get longer)
When u r 30-35yo (views on status archived so far)
When u r 35-40 yo (niggled by the rate or further speculation of archived status)
And looking back, wat had done, lost, replaced n voided as in all aspect of values……
Can still see the far the ground since u really took off?
Can get back to the ground level again?
Switch the both roles n see again….. And see how much of ur heart left after all ur discount to the damage from the sum of the aspect of values……
job for store keeper apply
These figures look really inflated. I dont believe they are that high in reality. Minus $1K each more accurate
(solo Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
“How many receptionists you know earn SGD2300 per mth? Most of them I know earn less than SGD2000. The only good thing about working as a receptionist is that you usually get to go off on time as you need to log-off the PABX system)
– My dear cousin used to work as a receptionist in a private corporate/finance law firm for 2 years between 2009 – 2011. Basically doing nothing much – serves visitors, book meeting rooms, arrange courier services, answering phone calls..etc. Most of the time she just uses the net and ‘facebook’. For all that, she takes home $2.5k+/mth, 9-6/5-day work, was given 16days AL, $1k medical/dental claims, 13th month bonus and ~2-3months annual profit sharing with just a N-level cert while I have a diploma in engineering, slogging my time n energy away in my co. earning just $200 more than her. FML!
I would like to express some thanks to the writer for rescuing me from such a setting. After surfing through the world wide web and finding suggestions which were not helpful, I believed my entire life was gone. Being alive without the presence of strategies to the problems you’ve solved through your entire post is a crucial case, and the ones that would have negatively damaged my entire career if I had not come across the website. Your actual skills and kindness in handling the whole lot was priceless. I am not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t come upon such a stuff like this. I’m able to at this time relish my future. Thank you very much for your high quality and sensible help. I will not be reluctant to suggest your site to anyone who would need assistance on this subject.
I am a Business Librarian in an academic institution; I have been working as a Librarian for 16 years. My gross monthly salary, if I include the 13th month bonus and exclude any other extras, is $4,900.
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Those Salaries Are Annually or Monthly??
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Tbh,
Im 25 in investment banking and your pay for market research analyst is just about right. Whatever others say, ur pay for the financial industry isnt far off. The lowest 25% (entry level) earns about there. Depending on the bank. So yeah. Keep up the good work. Im not shitting you.
Most in finance are not Singaporeans as there is a preference for Malaysians Sg PR(60%), 20% foreigners and Singaporeans 20%. This is to retain the scam within the industry as the whole nation is forced to invest through them by the artificially created low interest rates.
Fleecing the nation.
They have held back the jobs from locals and are waiting for their kids to gain the 10 year experience for some credibility to set up funds.
Be aware.