A complete, sourced guide to salaries, taxes, and cost of living in Singapore — built for job seekers, professionals, students, expats, employers, and researchers comparing pay across 500+ professions and 15 industries.
Figures above are illustrative national averages — see Methodology for how they're calculated.
Singapore is one of the world's leading financial and business hubs, with particularly strong salaries in finance, technology, and professional services. As a city-state, there is no regional salary variation the way there is in larger countries — pay differences are driven almost entirely by industry, seniority, and whether a role is local or regional/international in scope.
Singapore combines high salaries with relatively low personal income tax rates by global standards, though housing (particularly private property) is among the most expensive in Asia.
All figures on this page are shown in USD for cross-country comparison and represent national average estimates. Actual pay depends heavily on industry, seniority, and residency/citizenship status, which affects some benefits.
| Profession | Industry | Avg. Monthly | Avg. Annual | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | Technology | $9,350 | $112,200 | $80,800 – $173,900 |
| Data Scientist | Technology | $9,750 | $117,000 | $84,200 – $181,400 |
| Product Manager | Technology | $10,600 | $127,200 | $91,600 – $197,200 |
| Web Developer | Technology | $7,100 | $85,200 | $61,300 – $132,100 |
| IT Support Specialist | Technology | $4,700 | $56,400 | $40,600 – $87,400 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $6,600 | $79,200 | $57,000 – $122,800 |
| Physician (General) | Healthcare | $18,600 | $223,200 | $160,700 – $346,000 |
| Dentist | Healthcare | $14,900 | $178,800 | $128,700 – $277,100 |
| Pharmacist | Healthcare | $11,000 | $132,000 | $95,000 – $204,600 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $8,050 | $96,600 | $69,600 – $149,700 |
| Civil Engineer | Engineering | $7,650 | $91,800 | $66,100 – $142,300 |
| Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $7,850 | $94,200 | $67,800 – $146,000 |
| Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $8,450 | $101,400 | $73,000 – $157,200 |
| Electrician | Construction | $5,500 | $66,000 | $47,500 – $102,300 |
| Plumber | Construction | $5,300 | $63,600 | $45,800 – $98,600 |
| Construction Worker | Construction | $3,850 | $46,200 | $33,300 – $71,600 |
| Architect | Construction | $7,300 | $87,600 | $63,100 – $135,800 |
| Teacher (K-12) | Education | $4,900 | $58,800 | $42,300 – $91,100 |
| University Professor | Education | $7,650 | $91,800 | $66,100 – $142,300 |
| School Administrator | Education | $6,900 | $82,800 | $59,600 – $128,300 |
| Retail Sales Associate | Retail | $2,850 | $34,200 | $24,600 – $53,000 |
| Retail Store Manager | Retail | $4,700 | $56,400 | $40,600 – $87,400 |
| Chef | Hospitality | $4,500 | $54,000 | $38,900 – $83,700 |
| Waiter / Waitress | Hospitality | $2,650 | $31,800 | $22,900 – $49,300 |
| Hotel Manager | Hospitality | $5,500 | $66,000 | $47,500 – $102,300 |
| Factory Worker | Manufacturing | $3,450 | $41,400 | $29,800 – $64,200 |
| Production Manager | Manufacturing | $7,200 | $86,400 | $62,200 – $133,900 |
| Government Administrator | Government | $5,600 | $67,200 | $48,400 – $104,200 |
| Police Officer | Government | $5,400 | $64,800 | $46,700 – $100,400 |
| Truck Driver | Transportation | $4,350 | $52,200 | $37,600 – $80,900 |
| Logistics Manager | Transportation | $7,000 | $84,000 | $60,500 – $130,200 |
| Marketing Manager | Marketing | $8,450 | $101,400 | $73,000 – $157,200 |
| Digital Marketing Specialist | Marketing | $5,500 | $66,000 | $47,500 – $102,300 |
| Corporate Lawyer | Legal | $13,100 | $157,200 | $113,200 – $243,700 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $4,900 | $58,800 | $42,300 – $91,100 |
| Sales Representative | Sales | $5,100 | $61,200 | $44,100 – $94,900 |
| Account Executive | Sales | $7,000 | $84,000 | $60,500 – $130,200 |
| Customer Service Representative | Customer Service | $3,350 | $40,200 | $28,900 – $62,300 |
| Call Center Manager | Customer Service | $5,800 | $69,600 | $50,100 – $107,900 |
| Accountant | Finance | $6,300 | $75,600 | $54,400 – $117,200 |
| Financial Analyst | Finance | $7,450 | $89,400 | $64,400 – $138,600 |
| Investment Banker | Finance | $14,400 | $172,800 | $124,400 – $267,800 |
| HR Manager | Various | $8,250 | $99,000 | $71,300 – $153,400 |
| Graphic Designer | Various | $4,800 | $57,600 | $41,500 – $89,300 |
Figures are illustrative national average estimates rounded for readability, not exact statistical values. See Methodology for how these are calculated.
Singapore's relatively low personal income tax and mandatory CPF savings contributions (for citizens/PRs) support strong structural savings, though private housing costs — among the highest in Asia — and, for expatriate families, international schooling fees can absorb a significant share of income.
National average asking rent for a one-bedroom private condominium apartment is roughly $1,800–$2,300/month; HDB public housing rentals (where eligible) are considerably lower, often $1,000–$1,500/month for a comparable unit.
Public housing (HDB flats) — where the large majority of citizens and PRs live — is considerably more affordable than private property, which is among the most expensive in Asia, with prime private condominiums often exceeding $1,500 USD per square foot.
Public HDB estates in mature but non-central towns (such as Woodlands, Jurong West, or Sengkang) offer significantly lower housing costs than private condominiums in the central districts, for those eligible to rent or buy HDB housing.
Singapore uses a hybrid healthcare financing system combining mandatory Medisave savings (part of CPF), government subsidies at public hospitals, and optional private insurance (MediShield Life is a baseline national scheme, with Integrated Shield Plans as popular top-ups).
Public (restructured) hospitals offer subsidized care for citizens and PRs, with subsidy levels depending on ward class chosen. Private hospitals and specialists are widely used by those with adequate insurance coverage, including many expatriates via employer-provided plans.
Costs vary significantly by ward class and whether treatment is public or private. Medisave and MediShield Life significantly offset costs for citizens and PRs; expatriates typically rely on employer-provided or personal private insurance.
Public school education is heavily subsidized for citizens and, at a higher fee tier, for Permanent Residents and some international students, and is widely regarded as one of the strongest systems globally by international assessment rankings. Expatriate families on work passes commonly use private international schools instead.
Local public university tuition (e.g. NUS, NTU) is subsidized for citizens and PRs and considerably higher for international students, though still often more affordable than comparable Western institutions; Singapore is also a significant regional hub for branch campuses of international universities.
Singapore has one of the most extensive and efficient public transport systems in the world (MRT and bus network), making car ownership genuinely optional for most residents, unlike in most other countries on this site.
Car ownership is deliberately made expensive through a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system designed to limit the number of vehicles on the road — as a result, a private car is a significant luxury expense rather than a routine cost for most residents.
The statutory maximum working week is 44 hours. Statutory paid annual leave starts at 7 days per year for employees under the Employment Act, rising with tenure, though many private-sector employers offer considerably more (commonly 14–21 days) as a competitive benefit.
Hybrid work is common in finance, technology, and professional services. Typical benefits include employer CPF contributions (for citizens/PRs), health insurance (particularly for foreign employees), and paid annual leave often above the statutory minimum.
Foreign nationals generally require a work pass to work in Singapore, most commonly the Employment Pass for professionals meeting a minimum salary threshold, or the S Pass for mid-skilled roles, both requiring employer sponsorship.
This is general information, not legal advice. For current, authoritative requirements, consult the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) official work pass portal, or a licensed relocation/immigration adviser.
Based on the figures shown on this page, the average salary in Singapore is approximately $5,900 per month, or around $70,800 per year, though this varies significantly by industry and seniority.
Given Singapore's high cost of living, particularly housing, a salary meaningfully above the national average is generally needed to live comfortably in private housing, while HDB public housing residents can manage on more moderate salaries.
There is no general statutory minimum wage. Instead, Singapore uses a sector-specific Progressive Wage Model that sets minimum pay ladders for certain lower-wage industries like cleaning, security, and landscaping.
Singapore's personal income tax is progressive but relatively low by global standards, from 0% to 24% — see the Tax System section above. There is no capital gains or inheritance tax.
CPF (Central Provident Fund) is a mandatory savings scheme for citizens and Permanent Residents covering retirement, healthcare, and housing. Most foreign employees on standard work passes do not contribute to CPF.
Yes, particularly for private housing and car ownership, both intentionally priced at a premium. However, public (HDB) housing and Singapore's efficient public transport make a comfortable lifestyle achievable without a car or private condominium.
Healthcare is not free but is subsidized for citizens and PRs at public hospitals, supported by mandatory Medisave savings and the MediShield Life national insurance scheme; many residents also carry supplemental private insurance.
The statutory minimum starts at 7 days per year under the Employment Act, rising with tenure, though many private-sector employers offer 14–21 days as a standard benefit.
Technology roles on this page range from around $56,000/year for entry-level IT support roles to over $127,000/year for experienced product managers, among the highest in Asia.
Yes — foreign nationals generally need an employer-sponsored work pass, most commonly the Employment Pass or S Pass depending on the role and salary level. See our Visa & Employment section for where to find official guidance.
Gross salary is before deductions. For citizens/PRs, take-home pay reflects income tax and CPF contributions; for most foreign employees on work passes, it mainly reflects income tax alone, since CPF generally doesn't apply.
No — many Singapore employers pay an annual bonus (sometimes referred to as the '13th month' payment or Annual Wage Supplement), which is not included in the base salary figures on this page.
Data on this page is reviewed and updated manually on a regular cycle rather than pulled from a live feed. See the "Last Updated" note near the top of this page.
Figures are informed by categories of public sources such as government labour statistics, tax authority publications, and independent compensation surveys. See our Data Sources section below.
Yes — use the Compare tool on the Global Salary Atlas homepage to compare salary, tax, and cost of living between Singapore and any other country in our database.
Figures on this page are informed by categories of public sources, including government labour statistics, national tax authority publications, public statistical agencies, and — where relevant for broader economic context — international organizations. These are named here as examples of the type of source we draw on, not as a claim of live or automated data access.
This page is manually reviewed and updated rather than fed by a real-time data feed. See the "Last Updated" note near the top of this page, and our full Data Sources and Methodology pages for more detail on how figures across Global Salary Atlas are sourced and verified.
Spotted a figure that looks outdated? Let us know — corrections are reviewed and applied on our regular update cycle.