Singapore Wage Map 2026
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Occupations & Industries

Who Singapore pays the most — and the least

The Ministry of Manpower publishes a median wage for 523 occupations. They run from a $1,600 wage floor to a ceiling of at least $20,000 — a 12.5× span. This is a winners-and-losers tour across five lenses: pay level, career trajectory, cross-industry spread, industry mix, and firm size. No inputs — just the published medians behind the calculator.

Source: MOM Occupational Wage Survey, June 2025 — full-time resident employees, medians.

Highest median
≥ $20,000
3 roles report at the ceiling
The middle of the market
$4,534
median of every occupation's median
Wage floor
$1,600
11 roles sit on the PWM / LQS floor

All figures are all-industries gross medians — monthly wages (basic plus overtime, commissions and allowances) for full-time resident employees, June 2025. Rankings compare exact published medians only; nothing is pooled or estimated.

1

The economy's pay spread

Every occupation's median pay across the whole economy — a long right tail of high earners over a dense low-to-middle mass.

523 occupation medians (all-industries, gross), from $1.6K to $20K. The median occupation's median is $4,534.
2

The 25 highest-paid occupations

Ranked by all-industries gross median, coloured by occupational group — the top of the market is Managers and Professionals almost end to end.

  1. 1Flying instructor (excluding air force)≥ $20,000
  2. 2Diagnostic radiologist≥ $20,000
  3. 3Financial derivatives dealer≥ $20,000
  4. 4Chief information officer/Chief technology officer/Chief information security officer$17,812
  5. 5Risk management manager$17,077
  6. 6Commercial airline pilot$17,053
  7. 7ICT sales and services professional$15,841
  8. 8Fund/Portfolio manager$15,750
  9. 9Company director$13,839
  10. 10Ship broker$13,792
  11. 11Chief operating officer/General manager$13,750
  12. 12Enterprise/Solution/Software architect$13,614
  13. 13Foreign exchange dealer$13,500
  14. 14University lecturer$13,403
  15. 15Financial risk manager$13,058
  16. 16Managing director/Chief executive officer$13,000
  17. 17In-house legal counsel (excluding judiciary, ministries and statutory boards)$13,000
  18. 18Economist$12,995
  19. 19Policy manager$12,512
  20. 20Software and applications manager$12,500
  21. 21Regional sales manager$12,457
  22. 22ICT auditor$12,125
  23. 23Research and development manager$12,000
  24. 24Marine superintendent$12,000
  25. 25Treasury manager$12,000
  • Managers · 10
  • Professionals · 15
Of 523 occupations with a published median. 3 roles report exactly $20,000 — a likely publication ceiling, so read the top as “at least $20,000”, not a precise figure.
3

The 25 lowest-paid occupations

Same ranking from the bottom. A cluster of roles sits at exactly the same figure — the wage floor.

  1. 1Odd job person$1,600 *
  2. 2Bus attendant$1,600 *
  3. 3Food/Drink stall assistant$1,600 *
  4. 4Civil engineering/Building construction labourer$1,600 *
  5. 5Hand launderer/presser (non-household)$1,600 *
  6. 6Dishwasher$1,600 *
  7. 7Food and beverage establishment general cleaner$1,600 *
  8. 8Building painter$1,600 *
  9. 9Floor/Wall tiler$1,600 *
  10. 10Hair stylist/Hairdresser$1,600 *
  11. 11Waiter$1,600 *
  12. 12Beautician$1,618
  13. 13Kitchen assistant$1,620
  14. 14Plastic products machine operator$1,624
  15. 15Hand packer$1,630
  16. 16Carpenter$1,630
  17. 17Hospital/Clinic attendant$1,700
  18. 18Pipe fitter$1,700
  19. 19Petrol station attendant$1,724
  20. 20Landscape/Plant nursery supervisor$1,740
  21. 21Car park attendant$1,783
  22. 22Tea server/steward (excluding bartender, barista and food/drink stall assistant)$1,800
  23. 23Table-top cleaner$1,800
  24. 24Sewing machine operator$1,800
  25. 25Office/Commercial/Industrial establishment indoor cleaner$1,820
  • Services and Sales Workers · 4
  • Agricultural and Fishery Workers · 1
  • Craftsmen and Related Trades Workers · 4
  • Plant and Machine Operators and Assemblers · 2
  • Cleaners, Labourers and Related Workers · 14
Of 523 occupations with a published median. The $1,600 figure repeats across 11 roles (marked ): it is the Progressive Wage Model / Local Qualifying Salary floor, not a coincidence.
4

Careers that compound vs careers that flatten

Percentage change in median pay from the 25–29 to the 40–49 age band — the difference between a career that pays off with experience and one that doesn't.

Pay compounds with age
  1. Commercial airline pilot+536%
  2. In-house legal counsel (excluding judiciary, ministries and statutory boards)+242.8%
  3. Fund/Portfolio manager+215.3%
  4. Managing director/Chief executive officer+207.6%
  5. Financial/Investment adviser+172%
  6. Cloud specialist+154.7%
  7. Interaction designer+149.4%
  8. ICT sales and services professional+143.8%
  9. Content writer+138.5%
  10. Company director+134.3%
  11. Compliance officer/Risk analyst (financial)+129.6%
  12. Editor (news/periodicals)+125%
  13. Manufacturing manager+121.4%
  14. Financial services manager+121.2%
  15. General practitioner/Physician+116.9%
Pay flattens or falls
  1. Kitchen assistant−15%
  2. Personnel/Human resource clerk−14.6%
  3. Waiter−14.6%
  4. Supervisor/General foreman (building and related trades)−9.1%
  5. Merchandising/Category executive−8.9%
  6. Office clerk−8.9%
  7. Data entry clerk−7.8%
  8. Beautician−7.6%
  9. Security supervisor−6.1%
  10. Training/Staff development professional−4.6%
  11. Office/Commercial/Industrial establishment indoor cleaner−4.5%
  12. Shop sales assistant−3.4%
  13. Procurement/Purchasing clerk−3.2%
  14. Senior security supervisor−2.9%
  15. Enumerator/Market research interviewer−1.9%
Computable for 213 occupations that publish both age bands. 22 occupations pay less at 40–49 than at 25–29 — experience isn't rewarded everywhere.
5

The industry league table

Industries ranked by the median of their published occupation medians — Financial & Insurance on top, Accommodation & Food at the foot.

  1. Financial and Insurance Services$8,060 n 135
  2. Information and Communications$7,191 n 107
  3. Professional Services$5,750 n 181
  4. Wholesale and Retail Trade$5,013 n 152
  5. Transportation and Storage$4,548 n 145
  6. Manufacturing$4,500 n 201
  7. Public Administration and Education$4,244 n 55
  8. Health and Social Services$4,018 n 111
  9. Arts, Entertainment and Recreation$3,678 n 50
  10. Construction$3,624 n 110
  11. Other Community, Social and Personal Services$3,585 n 67
  12. Real Estate Services$3,395 n 66
  13. Administrative and Support Services$3,100 n 113
  14. Accommodation and Food Services$2,655 n 86
This is the "median published role", unweighted — it reflects each industry's occupation mix, not what an average worker there earns. n = occupations published per industry (50–201).
6

Where you work matters most

The same occupation, priced very differently by industry. Each bar spans the poorest to the richest industry median for that role.

  • Managing director/Chief executive officer$17,625 · 3.4×
    $7,375 Accommodation and Food ServicesFinancial and Insurance Services $25,000
  • Electronics engineer$13,700 · 4.1×
    $4,400 ConstructionInformation and Communications $18,100
  • Chief operating officer/General manager$12,733 · 2.9×
    $6,810 Other Community, Social and Personal ServicesTransportation and Storage $19,543
  • In-house legal counsel (excluding judiciary, ministries and statutory boards)$12,000 · 2.5×
    $8,000 Professional ServicesManufacturing $20,000
  • Company director$10,777 · 2.7×
    $6,527 Accommodation and Food ServicesFinancial and Insurance Services $17,304
  • Research and development manager$9,252 · 2.1×
    $8,078 Public Administration and EducationInformation and Communications $17,330
  • Enterprise/Solution/Software architect$8,792 · 2×
    $9,079 Transportation and StorageProfessional Services $17,871
  • ICT sales and services professional$8,746 · 1.8×
    $10,830 Wholesale and Retail TradeProfessional Services $19,576
  • Personnel/Human resource manager$8,652 · 2.9×
    $4,553 Accommodation and Food ServicesFinancial and Insurance Services $13,205
  • Business development manager$8,170 · 2.3×
    $6,330 Accommodation and Food ServicesInformation and Communications $14,500
  • Customer service manager$7,902 · 3.5×
    $3,171 Accommodation and Food ServicesProfessional Services $11,073
  • Retail manager$7,565 · 3.8×
    $2,750 Other Community, Social and Personal ServicesProfessional Services $10,315
  • Marketing manager$7,240 · 2.4×
    $5,200 Accommodation and Food ServicesInformation and Communications $12,440
  • Wholesale trade manager$7,104 · 1.9×
    $7,787 Transportation and StorageFinancial and Insurance Services $14,891
  • Administration manager$6,794 · 2.9×
    $3,620 Accommodation and Food ServicesFinancial and Insurance Services $10,414
Computable for 161 occupations published in at least three section industries. Ranked by absolute dollar spread between the richest and poorest industry.
7

Widest vs narrowest pay bands

How much the top quartile out-earns the bottom quartile in the same role (p75 ÷ p25) — a read on how much outcomes vary.

Widest bands (high risk/reward)
  1. Commodities trader (excluding oil, bunker and environmental commodities)3.37×
  2. Flying instructor (excluding air force)3.14×
  3. Salesperson (door-to-door)3.10×
  4. Trade broker3.04×
  5. Website administrator/Webmaster3.03×
  6. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner3.00×
  7. Marketing and sales executive (food and beverage services)2.83×
  8. In-house legal counsel (excluding judiciary, ministries and statutory boards)2.82×
  9. Managing director/Chief executive officer2.80×
  10. Diagnostic radiologist2.77×
  11. Sales professional (institutional sales of financial products)2.76×
  12. Bookkeeper2.68×
  13. Telemarketer2.66×
  14. Wholesale trade manager2.66×
  15. Economist2.63×
Narrowest bands (predictable)
  1. Bus attendant1.06×
  2. Gardener/Horticultural worker1.08×
  3. Landscape worker1.08×
  4. General dental practitioner1.10×
  5. Civil engineering/Building construction labourer1.13×
  6. Floor/Wall tiler1.13×
  7. Specialised dentist1.17×
  8. Tree worker/technician1.17×
  9. Senior private security officer1.18×
  10. Food and beverage establishment general cleaner1.19×
  11. Instrumentalist1.21×
  12. Office cashier1.21×
  13. Butcher/Fishmonger and related food preparer1.22×
  14. Driving instructor/tester1.22×
  15. Odd job person1.22×
All-industries gross p75/p25, over the 523 occupations that publish both quartiles. A high ratio means wildly varying outcomes; near 1.0 means a tightly-banded role.
8

The firm-size premium

For the same job, does a bigger or smaller employer pay more? Almost always the bigger one — but a stubborn minority of roles flip it. The sharpest gaps each way; each bar is how much more the winning size pays.

Usually, big firms (200+) pay more

the rule — 281 of 359 roles

  1. Flying instructor (excluding air force)+318.6%
  2. University lecturer+146.9%
  3. Kitchen operations head/supervisor+131.2%
  4. Hair stylist/Hairdresser+129.8%
  5. Cabin attendant/steward+127.3%
  6. Telemarketer+120.5%
  7. Welder/Flame cutter+115.5%
  8. Supervisor/General foreman (building and related trades)+111%
  9. Interaction designer+109.4%
  10. Mechanical products quality checker/tester+108.2%
  11. Bus driver+106.8%
  12. Office clerk+101.2%
  13. General waste collection/recycling/material recovery worker+97.9%
  14. Sales demonstrator+95.4%
  15. Road transport operations officer+92.5%
Sometimes, small firms (25–199) do

the exception — 78 of 359 roles

  1. Audio/Video equipment technician+93.5%
  2. Technical superintendent+90.2%
  3. Resident technical officer+75%
  4. Aeronautical engineer+69.6%
  5. Marine engineering officer+64.6%
  6. Actuary+60.6%
  7. Shipping agent/Boarding officer+57.6%
  8. Financial/Investment adviser+54.8%
  9. Chemical engineer (excluding petroleum and petrochemical)+44.1%
  10. Travel consultant/reservation executive+43.7%
  11. Insurance underwriter+42.6%
  12. Economist+41.6%
  13. Medical device assembler/repairer+41.6%
  14. Creative advertising professional+37.6%
  15. Appraiser/Valuer (excluding intangible asset valuer)+37.5%
Of 359 occupations published at both establishment sizes, 281 (78%) pay more at large firms and 78 pay more at small ones. Large = 200+ employees, small = 25–199.
9

Where variable pay stacks highest

Occupations where gross pay most exceeds basic — overtime, shift work and commission doing the heavy lifting.

  1. Aircraft cleaner1.72× $1,652→$2,848
  2. Chemical engineering technician (petrochemical)1.65× $5,038→$8,300
  3. Paramedic1.53× $2,440→$3,724
  4. Waste truck driver1.51× $2,810→$4,235
  5. Bus driver1.50× $2,418→$3,618
  6. Wellness centre manager1.50× $4,000→$6,000
  7. Trailer-truck driver1.48× $2,074→$3,070
  8. Semi-conductor technician1.44× $3,637→$5,232
  9. Cleaning operations manager1.37× $3,600→$4,925
  10. Crane/Hoist operator (excluding port)1.36× $3,808→$5,194
  11. Motor vehicle cleaner/polisher1.36× $2,700→$3,660
  12. Chemical engineering technician (excluding petroleum, natural gas and petrochemical)1.34× $4,107→$5,498
  13. Motorised sweeper operator1.32× $2,700→$3,566
  14. Hospital/Clinic attendant1.31× $1,300→$1,700
  15. Chemical processing/products plant/machine operator1.29× $3,232→$4,168
Gross ÷ basic median, all-industries, over 523 occupations. A 1.72× ratio means gross pay is 72% above basic — most of it is variable, and less guaranteed.
10

Pay by industry & job family

A browse-anywhere close: median pay across industries and the four broad job families (MOM T5 sampler).

PMEs
Assoc. Prof. & Tech.
Clerical, Sales & Service
Production & Transport
Manufacturing
$7K
$4K
$1.7K
$2K
Food, Beverages & Tobacco
$5K
$3.9K
$1.7K
$1.8K
Paper/ Rubber/ Plastic Products & Printing
$7.2K
$5.6K
$3K
$2.6K
Petroleum, Chemical & Pharmaceutical Products
$8.3K
$5.1K
$4.3K
$2.9K
Fabricated Metal Products, Machinery & Equipment
$6.6K
$3.5K
$3.4K
$2.2K
Electronic, Computer & Optical Products
$6.2K
$3.8K
$4.5K
$2.1K
Transport Equipment
$6.1K
$4.3K
$1.8K
$1.6K
Construction
$6K
$3.7K
$1.6K
$1.9K
Services
$9K
$4.2K
$2.9K
$1.9K
Wholesale and Retail Trade
$8.2K
$4.6K
$2.6K
$2.5K
Wholesale Trade
$10.1K
$5K
$2.8K
$2.6K
Retail Trade
$6.4K
$4.1K
$2.7K
$1.7K
Transportation and Storage
$7K
$4.3K
$3.1K
$3.2K
Land Transport & Supporting Services
$7K
$3.7K
$3.1K
$3.3K
Water Transport & Supporting Services
$11K
$5.5K
$4K
$3.8K
None
$9.6K
$4.6K
$4.2K
$2.9K
Air Transport & Supporting Services
$10.1K
$4.7K
$4.3K
$2.1K
Accommodation and Food Services
$3.8K
$3.2K
$1.7K
$1.6K
Accommodation
$5.3K
$3.8K
$2.9K
$2.2K
Food & Beverage Services
$3.8K
$3.3K
$1.7K
$1.6K
Information and Communications
$7.5K
$5K
$3.7K
$2.1K
Telecommunications, Broadcasting & Publishing
$6.5K
$4.4K
$3.8K
—
IT & Other Information Services
$7.3K
$5.2K
$3.8K
$2.1K
Financial and Insurance Services
$9.5K
$5.5K
$4.7K
$2.8K
Financial Services
$9.8K
$6K
$5.4K
$2.6K
None
$9.9K
$5.4K
$4.2K
$3.3K
Insurance Services
$7.4K
$5.3K
$4.6K
—
Real Estate Services
$10.1K
$3.8K
$3K
$1.9K
Professional Services
$6.7K
$4.8K
$3.9K
$2.4K
Legal, Accounting & Management Services
$6.7K
$5.1K
$3.3K
$2.2K
Architectural & Engineering Services
$6.2K
$4.7K
$1.8K
$1.8K
Administrative and Support Services
$10K
$3.5K
$3K
$1.9K
Public Administration and Education
$5.7K
$4K
$3.7K
$2K
Health and Social Services
$5.2K
$4.2K
$3.1K
$2.5K
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
$5.8K
$3.7K
$2.6K
$1.6K
Other Community, Social and Personal Services
$4.7K
$4K
$2.3K
$1.6K
$1.6K$11Kmedian gross pay
Median of the sampled occupations in each industry × broad group. A wide sampler, not the full survey — empty cells had no sampled occupation.

Frequently asked questions

What are the highest-paying jobs in Singapore?

Singapore's highest-paid work sits with Managers and Professionals. The top published gross medians reach at least $20,000 a month, where 3 occupations report exactly that figure — a likely publication ceiling, so read the top as "at least $20,000", not an exact number.

What are the lowest-paying jobs in Singapore?

At the other end, 11 occupations sit on a $1,600 monthly floor — the Progressive Wage Model / Local Qualifying Salary level — in work such as cleaning, food service and general labour. MOM suppresses medians for very small samples, so some low-paid roles are simply not published rather than shown as a zero.

Which industry pays the most in Singapore?

Financial and Insurance Services tops the industry table, with a median published-role wage of $8,060, while Accommodation & Food sits at the foot. The table ranks the median of each industry's published occupation medians, so it reflects each sector's mix of roles rather than what an average worker there earns.

Do bigger companies pay more in Singapore?

Usually. Of the 359 occupations MOM publishes at both establishment sizes, 78% pay more at large firms (200+ employees) than at small ones (25–199) — though a stubborn minority of roles flip it.

Where does this data come from?

The Ministry of Manpower's Occupational Wage Survey for the June 2025 reference period, released on 30 June 2026 — monthly gross medians for full-time resident employees. This site is built independently by zqlimy and is not affiliated with or endorsed by MOM.

How to read this — caveats & method

  • Published medians only. Every ranking uses exact medians MOM published — no group pooling, no estimates. Each list states its suppression-aware denominator (“of the N occupations where X is published”); occupations MOM suppressed for a small sample are simply absent, never shown as a zero.
  • “At least $20,000”. 3 occupations report exactly $20,000 and 11 report exactly $1,600. These are a publication ceiling and the Progressive Wage / Local Qualifying Salary floor respectively — treat them as bounds, not precise averages.
  • The industry league is unweighted. It ranks the median of each industry's published occupation medians, so it reflects the mix of roles an industry reports — a finance-heavy sector looks high because it publishes more high-paying roles, not necessarily because every worker earns more.
  • Medians, not people. Cross-industry spread, band width and the size premium compare an occupation's medians across cuts; they describe where the role is priced highest, not any one person's pay or a guaranteed raise from switching.
  • Gross medians, full-time residents, June 2025. Monthly gross wages (basic plus overtime, commissions and allowances). Age cuts cover 25–59; career-growth figures compare the 25–29 and 40–49 bands only.