Wondering how your monthly salary compares against that of your peers? Me too.
Previously, we dived into the median salary in Singapore (news flash: It’s $4,680 as of 2021) as well as the median household income.
Being a Singaporean with a neverending kiasu (read: Fear of losing) attitude, I was intrigued to uncover the median monthly income of different occupations according to age and gender.
If you’re as curious as me, here’s all you need to know!
Disclaimer: This article contains the latest June 2021 statistics published by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Singapore on Jan 28, 2022.
TL;DR: Here’s how much employees are earning in Singapore according to occupation, by age and gender for 2022
The median gross income across all age groups and occupations is $4,000 (excluding employer CPF)
The median gross income is the highest across all occupations at age 40 to 49, with managers and administrators the highest at $10,000 for ages between 45 to 49
Male employees earn significantly more than female employees across all occupations except clerical support workers, with the biggest salary difference of 28.4 per cent between the genders for craftsmen and related trades workers
Male employees earn 12.1 per cent more than female employees on average
Source: Comprehensive Labour Force Survey, Manpower Research & Statistics Department, MOM
Occupations in Singapore: Which group do I belong to?
Before we proceed, let’s address the elephant in the room:
Which occupation category am I under?
According to the Singapore Standard Occupational Classification (SSOC), occupations can be generally categorised into 10 main groups.
1) Legislators, senior officials and managers
2) Professionals
3) Associate professionals and technicians
4) Clerical support workers
5) Service and sales workers
6) Agricultural and fishery workers
7) Craftsmen and related trades workers
8) Plant and machine operators and assemblers
9) Cleaners, labourers and related workers
10) Workers not elsewhere classified
Here’s a quick breakdown of the subgroups and area of work of these categories:
Occupational group
Sub-major groups
Examples of occupations
Area of work
Legislators, senior officials and managers
Legislators, senior officials and chief executives
Administrative and commercial managers
Production and specialised services managers
Hospitality, retail and related services managers
Cabinet ministers, full-time MPs
Senior government officials (PS, DS)
Senior statutory board officials (CE, Dy CE)
Company managing director
Department and specialised manager
School principal
Working proprietor
Plan, direct, coordinate and evaluate overall activities of enterprises, government agencies etc.
Formulate and review policies and laws
Oversee implementation of policies and/or running the affairs of the organisation
Professionals
Science & engineering professionals
Health professionals
Teaching professionals
Business and admin professionals
ICT professionals
Legal, social and cultural professionals
Other professionals not elsewhere classified
Chemist
Statistician
Civil engineer
Cardiologist
Dentist
Registered nurse
University lecturer
Primary school teacher
Auditor
Lawyer
Journalist
Required to apply scientific and artistic concepts and theories to the solution of problems at work
Requires high level of specialised knowledge & ability in fields of physical & life science, or social sciences & humanities
Also include teaching at primary level and higher
Associate professionals and technicians
Physical & engineering science associate professionals
Health Associate professionals
Business and admin associate professionals
Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionals
Information and communications technicians
Teaching associate professionals
Other associate professionals not elsewhere classified
Chemistry Technician
Mechanical Draughtsman
Air traffic controller
Landscape operations officer
Fire and safety inspector
Paramedic
Broadcasting operations technician
Carrying out technical work connected with the application of concepts and operational methods
Requires technical knowledge & ability in fields of physical & life science, or social sciences & humanities
Also includes teaching at extra-curriculum and below primary level
Clerical support workers
Clerical supervisors
General and keyboard clerks
Customer services officers and clerks
Numerical and material recording clerks
Other clerical support workers
Office clerk
Secretary
Bank teller
Receptionist
Telephone operator
Bookkeeper
Production planning clerk
Legal clerk
Entering data into computers, carrying out secretarial duties, recording and computing numerical data
Keeping records, filing documents
Supplying information requested by clients and making appointments
Service and sales workers
Personal service workers
Sales workers
Personal care workers
Protective service workers
Service workers not elsewhere classified
Cabin attendant
Tour guide
Waiter
Postman
Beautician
Shop sales assistant
Babysitter
Lifeguards
Police Officer
Demonstrate and sell good in wholesale or retail shops and similar establishments
Provision of personal and protective services related to: Travel, housekeeping, catering and personal care
Agricultural and fishery workers
Agricultural workers
Fishery workers
Hydroponic farm worker
Nursery worker
Livestock worker
Aquarium fish farm worker
Crocodile farm worker
Grow and harvest field or tree and shrub crops
Breed or tend animals
Produce a variety of animal husbandry products
Cultivate, conserve and exploit forests
Breed or catch fish
Cultivate or gather other forms of aquatic life
Craftsmen and related trades workers
Building and related trade workers
Metal, machinery and related trades workers
Precision, handicraft, printing & related trades workers
Electrical and electronic trades worker
Food processing, woodworking, garment, leather, and other craft and related trades workers
Carpenter
Building painter
Goldsmith
Pottery worker
Electrician
Baker
Tailor
Shoemaker
Apply specific knowledge and skills in the fields to:
Construct and maintain buildings
Erect metal structures
Set, maintain or repair machinery
Carrying out printing work
Process foodstuffs, textiles, or wooden, metal and other articles, including handicraft goods
Plant and machine operators and assemblers
Stationary plant & machine operators
Assemblers & quality checkers
Drivers and mobile machinery operators
Concrete pump operator
Metal rolling mill worker
Printing machine operator
Electronic component assembler
MRT train operator
Taxi driver
Crane operator
Packing/bottling/labelling machine operator
Operate and monitor industrial and agricultural machinery and equipment on the spot by remote control
Drive and operate trains, motor vehicles and mobile machinery and equipment
Assemble products from component parts according to strict specifications and procedures
Cleaners, labourers and related workers
Cleaners and related workers
Agricultural, fishery and related labourers
Labourers and related workers
Food preparation and kitchen assistants
Waste and recyclables collection workers and other
Office cleaner
Mover
Dishwasher
Bellboy
Building construction labourer
Perform different types of manual and routine tasks, e.g. cleaning, washing, food preparation, delivering goods, carrying luggage
Now that we have a clearer idea of which category we’re in, let’s take a closer look at the statistics.
READ ALSO: Moonlighting in Singapore: Is the extra income worth the risk?
Median gross income from work by occupation and age (excluding employer CPF)
Wondering where you stand amongst peers of your age group when it comes to your occupation?
Here’s a quick breakdown.
Age (Years)
Median monthly income*
Managers & administrators
(including working proprietors)
Professionals
Associate
professionals
&
technicians
Clerical
support
workers
Service
& sales
workers
Craftsmen
& related
trades
workers
Plant &
machine
operators
&
assemblers
Cleaners,
labourers
& related
workers
15 – 19
$1,000
–
–
–
$800
–
–
–
–
20 – 24
$2,329
–
$3,033
$2,500
$1,750
$2,000
–
$2,000
$1,700
25 – 29
$3,500
$4,900
$4,483
$3,227
$2,500
$2,500
$2,396
$2,000
$2,000
30 – 34
$4,500
$6,778
$5,600
$3,646
$2,600
$3,000
$2,708
$2,058
$1,700
35 – 39
$5,308
$8,750
$6,504
$4,000
$2,708
$2,900
$2,751
$2,400
$1,950
40 – 44
$5,958
$9,513
$7,538
$4,083
$2,947
$2,500
$3,142
$2,383
$1,842
45 – 49
$5,200
$10,000
$7,367
$4,120
$3,000
$2,404
$2,817
$2,151
$1,700
50 – 54
$4,500
$9,937
$7,000
$4,000
$3,033
$2,291
$2,500
$2,000
$1,528
55 – 59
$3,277
$9,858
$7,083
$3,800
$2,958
$2,100
$2,708
$2,000
$1,500
60 & Over
$2,400
$6,500
$6,413
$3,495
$2,500
$1,820
$2,212
$1,800
$1,400
Median Monthly Income*
$4,000
$8,667
$6,000
$3,600
$2,600
$2,300
$2,500
$2,000
$1,500
*Calculations for median monthly income include agricultural & fishery workers and workers not elsewhere classified, which are not reflected in the data above
The median gross monthly income peaks at age 40 to 44, at $5,958.
Managers and administrators have the highest salary at $9,513, and cleaners and labourers have the lowest pay at $1,842.
A typical university graduate in the associate professional & technician field earns about $3,227 excluding employer CPF contributions.
Managers & administrators between ages 45 to 49 hold the highest median income at $10,000, and cleaners & labourers age 60 and above hold the lowest median income at $1,400.
Median gross income from work by occupation and gender (excluding employer CPF)
MOM also offers insight into the median monthly income across occupations between different genders.
Occupation
Total
Males
Females
Per cent difference
Managers & administrators
(including working proprietors)
$8,667
$8,992
$8,167
10.10 per cent
Professionals
$6,000
$6,392
$5,617
13.80 per cent
Associate professionals & technicians
$3,600
$3,700
$3,500
5.71 per cent
Clerical support workers
$2,600
$2,495
$2,700
8.22 per cent
Service & sales workers
$2,300
$2,503
$2,034
23.06 per cent
Craftsmen & related trades workers
$2,500
$2,568
$2,000
28.4 per cent
Plant & machine operators & assemblers
$2,000
$2,000
$1,896
5.49 per cent
Cleaners, labourers & related workers
$1,500
$1,500
$1,450
3.45 per cent
Total
$4,000
$4,300
$3,836
12.1 per cent
*Calculations for median monthly income include agricultural & fishery workers and workers not elsewhere classified, which are not reflected in the data above
There’s an average pay gap of 12.1 per cent between the two genders across all occupations.
The income of male employees is significantly higher than female employees across all occupations except clerical support workers.
The pay difference is the highest for craftsmen and related trades workers at 28.4 per cent, which includes jobs like carpenter, electrician and baker.
The pay difference is the smallest for cleaners, labourers & related workers at 3.45 per cent, with a median income of $1,500 for males and $1,450 for females.
While the gender pay gap situation is slowly improving, it is evident that it still exists today.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) cited a few possible reasons for this gap, with one being women’s propensity to play the role of the primary caregiver at home.
This means a higher probability of taking time off from work to tend to familial needs.
What does this mean for you?
These numbers serve as a general guide to the median monthly income across different occupation groups.
Don’t be disheartened if your salary falls below these numbers, as the range within each group can vary widely based on the profession as well.
What’s most important is that you continue to work on yourself to improve your employability.
Here are a few things you can do:
Leverage on free course credits to upgrade yourself in terms of knowledge and skills
Consider a mid-career switch to command a higher salary in another field
Stretch your money by investing
Get proper insurance coverage so that you’ll have a financial safety net to safeguard your savings
Set your own financial goals and know what you need to get there
READ ALSO: Median income in Singapore projected to rise to $4,850 in 2022 & $5,000 in 2023: Can it keep up with inflation?
This article was first published in Seedly.
Income inequalityMedian incomePersonal financeStatistics SingaporeEmployers/Employees
