The latest Occupational Wage Survey 2024, released by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM), has revealed stark contrasts in the nation’s job market. While flying instructors top the charts with a median salary of \$20,000 per month, workers at the lower end—such as bus attendants, laundry workers, and civil engineering labourers—earn just around \$1,400 to \$1,560 monthly.

The findings shed light on deep pay disparities, the role of company size, and persistent gender pay gaps. They also reveal how age and experience shape salaries across industries. As Singapore continues its push for competitiveness in a global economy, these numbers highlight the challenges of balancing opportunity, equality, and growth.

Wide Pay Gap Among Flying Instructors

Among all professions surveyed, flying instructors showed the widest income gap. While the median salary is reported at \$20,000, actual earnings vary significantly:

• 25th percentile: \$8,050 per month
• 75th percentile: \$30,000 per month

This means that junior or part-time flight instructors earn just above \$8,000, while senior commercial airline trainers—especially those with decades of experience—command paychecks exceeding \$30,000 a month.

The disparity reflects the highly specialized nature of aviation training, where global demand for skilled pilots and trainers pushes salaries to extreme highs for top professionals.

Company Size as a Salary Factor

The survey revealed a clear link between company size and salary levels.

• Flying instructors working in firms with 200 or more employees earned an average of \$13,000 more per month compared to their counterparts in smaller organizations.
• Similar patterns were found in professions like salespeople, management consultants, and company directors.
• However, certain roles—including general practitioners, actuaries, and legal counsels—often see higher pay in smaller firms, likely due to broader responsibilities and direct client exposure.

This trend underscores the complex dynamics of organizational scale in determining pay. While large companies can afford premium wages, smaller firms sometimes compensate with specialist pay premiums.

Gender Pay Disparities Persist

Despite years of progress, gender pay inequality remains a feature of Singapore’s job market.

• Men dominate the highest-paying roles, with median monthly salaries between \$16,808 and \$20,000 across jobs like flying instructor, oil and bunker trader, and economist.
• For women, the highest-paying professions include in-house legal counsel, chief information officers, and airline pilots, where median monthly salaries range from \$12,179 to \$17,477.

Interestingly, the survey also noted:

• Male economists, HR consultants, and ICT specialists out-earn their female peers.
• But women in security operations, attractions management, and beauty services earn more than men in those fields.
• In certain roles, such as auxiliary police officers, masseurs, and executive search consultants, the gender pay gap is nonexistent.

This uneven distribution highlights the continued struggle for gender parity in high-paying sectors, even as women make progress in traditionally male-dominated fields like aviation and legal services.

Salaries by Age Group

Income progression in Singapore remains closely tied to age and experience.

• Ages 25–29: The highest median salaries go to software managers, foreign exchange dealers, and in-house lawyers, reflecting demand in finance and tech.
• 30s: Earnings peak for in-house lawyers, trade brokers, and management consultants.
• 40s: Flying instructors, oil and bunker traders, and senior legal counsels dominate, with pay nearing \$20,000.
• 50s: Airline pilots, senior investment advisers, and flying instructors continue to command high salaries, though some roles like auditors and consultants peak earlier and taper off by this stage.

The survey also showed that jobs in investment advising, ICT sales, and media editing tend to increase steadily with age, rewarding accumulated expertise, while consultancy roles often plateau by mid-career.

Methodology of the Survey

The Occupational Wage Survey 2024 was conducted between July and December 2024. It covered:

• 407,800 full-time resident employees
• Private-sector companies with at least 25 employees
• Excluded public sector roles (e.g., military flight instructors, government-employed legal counsels)

The reported figures included:

• Basic wages
• Allowances and commissions
• Overtime pay

They excluded:

• Employer CPF contributions
• Bonuses and stock options

MOM cautioned against direct year-on-year comparisons due to sample fluctuations and sectoral changes.

National Salary Context

While top earners command eye-popping salaries, the median wage for the typical Singaporean is far more modest.

• As of early 2025, the median gross monthly salary for all full-time resident employees stood at \$4,860 (excluding employer CPF contributions).

This means that top professions like flying instructors earn four to six times more than the national median, illustrating the sharp divide between elite professional roles and the average Singaporean worker.

At the same time, low-wage earners—like bus attendants, civil engineering labourers, and laundry workers—fall significantly below this average, with monthly earnings closer to \$1,400–\$1,560.

Broader Economic Implications

The survey highlights critical economic realities:

1. Inequality Challenge – The gap between high and low earners is widening, raising concerns about long-term income inequality.
2. Global Competition – Singapore’s position as a financial and aviation hub keeps demand for niche expertise (pilots, brokers, legal professionals) extremely high.
3. Policy Priorities – Government initiatives such as Progressive Wage Models (PWM) remain essential to raise standards in low-income sectors.
4. Talent Retention – With Singapore competing globally for highly skilled professionals, top salaries will remain necessary to attract and retain talent.

5 FAQs

Q1: What is the highest-paid job in Singapore according to the 2024 survey?
Flying instructors top the list, with a median salary of \$20,000 per month and top earners reaching \$30,000.

Q2: What are some of the lowest-paying jobs in Singapore?
Bus attendants, civil engineering labourers, and laundry workers earn between \$1,400 and \$1,560 monthly.

Q3: Does company size affect salary levels?
Yes. Larger companies generally offer higher pay—flying instructors in big firms earn up to \$13,000 more monthly compared to those in smaller organizations.

Q4: How does gender affect salary in Singapore?
Men dominate the highest-paying jobs, but women in roles like security operations and beauty services often out-earn their male peers. Some roles show no gender gap at all.

Q5: What is the national median salary in Singapore?
As of 2025, the median gross monthly salary across all full-time resident employees is \$4,860 (excluding employer CPF contributions).