Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, any opinions expressed below belong solely to the author. Data sourced from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower.
It’s this time of the year again, when Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower releases its latest salary data for over 420 common occupations in the domestic economy. Unfortunately, due to the scope of the task, there is a one-year lag in these statistics (they are accurate as of Jun 2025).
Though salaries do not change more than a few per cent over 12 months, so it remains pretty valid.
In 57 cases, the gross median annual pay has reached over S$100,000 per year, or S$8,333 per month. As a reminder, the median is the middle value. It means that half of the workers in a given profession make more than this figure and half make less.
Unsurprisingly, you’ll find these jobs in the two highest categories: Managers (26 jobs) and Professionals (31 jobs). In other words: those who manage people and organisations, and those who specialise in specific tasks, but not among the support staff and clerical workers.
Managers
OccupationMedian Monthly Gross WageChief information officer/ Chief technology officer/ Chief information security officerS$18,413Risk management managerS$16,025Company directorS$13,844Chief operating officer/ General managerS$13,060Financial risk managerS$12,130Managing director/ Chief executive officerS$12,050Policy managerS$11,858Regional sales managerS$11,483Strategic planning managerS$11,109Software and applications managerS$10,973Research and development managerS$10,750Financial services managerS$10,750Audit managerS$10,742Network/ Communications/ Infrastructure managerS$10,340Insurance services managerS$10,066Online sales channel managerS$9,844Budgeting/ Financial accounting managerS$9,728Wholesale trade managerS$9,616Quality control/ assurance managerS$9,540Marketing managerS$9,400Supply and distribution/ Logistics/ Warehousing managerS$9,394Business development managerS$9,182ICT service managerS$8,847Personnel/ Human resource managerS$8,500Customer service managerS$8,500Media/ Broadcast managerS$8,400
It’s hardly a surprise that most of these managerial positions involve dealing with money: finance, sales and managing the entire business (in addition to a few more specialised roles).
You might be surprised to see CEOs or company directors ranked lower than CIOs or CTOs here, but you have to keep in mind that only big companies have these specialised roles, while virtually every business has a CEO.
This means that the number of data points for CEOs is much higher and their distribution is much broader, including many smaller businesses where the boss isn’t necessarily paid five figures per month. This brings those average figures down.
Professionals
OccupationMedian Monthly Gross WageFinancial derivatives dealerS$20,000ICT sales and services professionalS$15,250In-house legal counsel (excluding judiciary, ministries and statutory boards)S$12,507Commercial airline pilotS$12,337EconomistS$12,113Artificial intelligence/ Machine learning engineerS$11,838Enterprise/ Solution/ Software architectS$11,605Fund/ Portfolio managerS$11,270Business valuerS$10,942University lecturerS$10,931Treasury managerS$10,286Sales professional (institutional sales of financial products)S$10,270Advocate/ Solicitor (practising)S$10,000Editor (news/ periodicals)S$9,823Chemical engineer (petroleum)S$9,612Data scientistS$9,537Oil/ Bunker traderS$9,459Cyber risk specialistS$9,423Interaction designerS$9,306Tax accountantS$9,282Internal medicine physicianS$9,262Compliance officer/ Risk analyst (financial)S$9,182BiochemistS$9,161Cybersecurity architectS$9,142Medical scientistS$9,067Management consultantS$8,811VeterinarianS$8,805Insurance underwriterS$8,780Financial product structurerS$8,745Marketing strategy/ planning professionalS$8,713Operations research analystS$8,569
This might be the list that interests more people, as it shows that you don’t have to aspire to “manage” anything to make really good money. You can simply be an expert in one of many diverse fields, enjoying your line of work and getting paid handsomely for your expertise.
It may, of course, involve a job in finance or insurance, but also being a doctor, or a veterinarian, lawyer, data scientist, engineer, press editor, designer, AI developer or a university lecturer.
You might be good with numbers or good with people (or even animals). You can fly a plane, teach or trade oil.
There are countless career opportunities that Singapore’s job market is willing to reward with a good salary, as long as you yourself acquire the skills and knowledge required.
Few people could complain that the city is too small to allow them have a good career. There are many avenues to follow even if you never set foot outside this small island.
Read other articles we’ve written on Singapore’s job landscape
here.
Featured Image Credit: jpldesigns/ depositphotos
