Singapore Fresh Graduate Salary in 2023
Singapore Fresh Graduate Salary in 2023Â -Â When someone just graduated, most of them consider applying for a job. This next step is commonly favored compared to other options. Continuing to study higher for example. The reason most people prefer to join the workforce as soon as they graduate can vary.
Mainly, to start their career as early as they can. It’s undeniable that most people think of having a good career as the key to a successful life. It’s their end goal to be able to live a secured life for the rest of their life and the main factor to make this happen is a good career.
You reap what you sow. Many people believe that starting your career as early as possible is always the way. If you work hard early and are able to maintain your pace, your retirement years will be saved.
However, that is not the only reason many fresh graduates want to start their career early. It can’t be denied that the changing times make the competition in the workforce stronger, almost causing young people anxious and believe that they can’t survive if they don’t work hard enough at such a young age.
Most young people living in Singapore are aware of this fierce competition in the workforce already. Since Singapore opens great career opportunities for both Singaporeans and foreigners, it also means that the competition is much fiercer because more people from various backgrounds can compete with each other while everyone wants the same. Any foreigners who also dream to develop their career in Singapore should be aware of this as well beforehand.
There are abundant job vacancies for fresh graduates in Singapore, both high school and university graduates. However, the salary they would receive is another case. It can totally vary depending on various factors as well.
The High School Graduate Salary
Many high school students or graduates in Singapore are already considering applying for a job. The students usually do it to fill spare time during the long holiday season, extra cash, and many other reasons. However, the high school graduates tend to go for part-time as well as full time jobs depending on their goals.
Some high school graduates do it to build their portfolio early. Some choose part-time jobs before starting university. Some others choose to work first before going to university, part of their gap year journey. There can be many reasons a high school graduate chooses to get a job as soon as they graduate from their school.
There are many jobs open for high school graduates in Singapore as well. To give some ideas, there are:
- Flyer distributor
- Emcee
- Tutor
- Caregiver
- Receptionist
- Waiter/waitress
- Sales assistant
- Event coordinator/helper
- Trainee
- Brand ambassador
- Freelance worker
If you are a high school graduate and can’t find one job that interests you as aforementioned, you can try to find the one that interests you. Find them on WorkClass.
According to Glassdoor Singapore, the average base pay of part-time workers in Singapore is $9 per hour. However, it is possible for high school graduates to get a higher salary. It depends on what skills you offer that meet the employer’s requirements and the scale of your job. High salary is not limited to higher degree graduates as long as you can choose the right job.
Do not worry if you start it low as a high school graduate. The workforce for high school fresh graduates can be challenging as most companies demand university degree graduates. As long as you are on the right path, you can do your job well, you are doing well.
Higher degree holders are generally likely to start their careers on a better footing. University graduates are more likely to receive a better salary compared to high school graduates.
According to The Straits Times, the starting salaries for fresh graduates from Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2021. 86% of the fresh graduates which graduated in 2020 secured full-time permanent jobs. 95.6% of the fresh graduates which graduated in 2021 also already found employment within six months of graduation. The median gross monthly salary is $3,550.
Other top universities in Singapore also generate fresh graduates that earn high salaries. National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, and Singapore University of Social Sciences drew a median gross monthly salary of $3,800. However, Singapore University of Technology and Design earned higher with $4,500.
As for majors, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) graduates tend to receive a high salary, even for fresh graduates. Software Engineering fresh graduates earn $5,000, Information Security fresh graduates earn $4,950, and Computer Science fresh graduates earn $4,600.
Before and during pandemic, ICT is a desirable major for students because of all the opportunities and positive prospects in the future. Even in 2020, when the pandemic is on peak, careers in tech have become more desirable than ever according to an annual national graduate careers survey by GTI Media Singapore.
That survey also generated top 10 tech firms fresh graduates wishing to apply for their first job in Singapore. They are:
- Microsoft
- Amazon
- Micron
- Accenture
- Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
- Intel
- Shopee
- Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA)
- Grab
- IBM
They also did surveys regarding job-hunting attitudes. The result is that 61.6% of respondents think it will be tough to get a good job in 2023. While it may be true and quite impactful for the job seekers because they are the subject, they don’t have much choice except to compete.
However, 27.3% of respondents have different options. These respondents intend to launch a start-up after graduation instead of working for established employers. The similarity between the two is that both are working in the tech sector, the top sector in Singapore in this decade.
While tech jobs remain as the most desired career, there is good news for everyone who wishes to work in other sectors. In the third year of the ongoing pandemic, other sectors started to recover. Fresh graduates in tourism and built environment sectors started to recover and earn well. The same recovery situation goes to hospital business, civil engineering, and sustainable infrastructure engineering. Most of them are getting better compared to the previous year now.
It is also supported by the return of job fairs since the pandemic. Last August 2023 marked the first season of large-scale graduate job fairs held physically since COVID-19 sage management measures were relaxed in April. This event was held for the fresh graduates and students. This event was also using a hybrid system. It's done offline where people can come physically to the events and online where people who can’t attend physically, are still able to join this event.
Job fairs play an important role in leveraging opportunities for the fresh graduates. There can be many and various companies attending the event and they are more than willing to help these fresh graduates who are also seeking guides in the workforce as they are still beginners.
There are several sources that provide comprehensive information on fresh graduate salary for university graduates. Below is a table of fresh graduate salaries in Singapore for university degrees based on data collected by Singapore’s Ministry of Education released in 2023.
This table concludes salary for fresh graduates from several universities in Singapore such as:
- National University of Singapore (NUS)
- Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
- Singapore Management University (SMU)
- Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)
- Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
- Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
|
Fresh Graduates | |||||||||
|
Course Cluster |
Gross Monthly Median Salary (6) |
Proportion of Graduates in the Labour Force Who Were Employed (4) |
Proportion of Graduates in the Labour Force Who Were: In Full-Time Permanent | ||||||
|
Employment (5) | |||||||||
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 | ||||
|
Arts, Design & |
$3,100 |
$3,300 |
$3,300 |
86.10% |
92.00% |
92.50% |
62.90% |
51.60% |
68.40% |
|
Media | |||||||||
|
Built Environment |
$3,500 |
$3,500 |
$3,600 |
91.70% |
94.60% |
94.30% |
86.00% |
73.90% |
89.50% |
|
Business |
$3,460 |
$3,500 |
$3,600 |
94.20% |
94.90% |
96.90% |
87.90% |
74.40% |
87.80% |
|
Dentistry |
$4,200 |
$4,200 |
$4,200 |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
97.30% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
Education (NIE) |
$3,800 |
$3,800 |
$3,798 |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
99.10% |
100.00% |
|
Engineering |
$3,700 |
$3,850 |
$3,850 |
88.60% |
93.80% |
94.00% |
83.40% |
68.80% |
86.70% |
|
Health Sciences |
$3,500 |
$3,500 |
$3,600 |
98.30% |
98.00% |
97.40% |
93.40% |
90.40% |
91.00% |
|
Humanities & Social |
$3,500 |
$3,500 |
$3,571 |
87.70% |
92.20% |
91.30% |
74.30% |
62.00% |
75.80% |
|
Sciences | |||||||||
|
Information & Digital Technologies |
$4,344 |
$4,500 |
$5,000 |
94.90% |
95.60% |
97.70% |
92.10% |
87.40% |
94.10% |
|
Music |
$3,500 |
$3,275 |
$3,100 |
82.60% |
69.20% |
82.40% |
39.10% |
15.40% |
35.30% |
|
Sciences |
$3,500 |
$3,500 |
$3,600 |
86.90% |
91.60% |
91.70% |
71.50% |
55.40% |
75.80% |
|
Yale-NUS |
$3,800 |
$4,038 |
$4,150 |
95.80% |
90.90% |
89.80% |
79.00% |
68.20% |
73.90% |
|
Follow-up Graduates | |||||||||
|
Architecture (7) |
$4,000 |
$4,000 |
$4,000 |
100.00% |
95.90% |
97.30% |
94.60% |
92.40% |
93.80% |
|
Biomedical Sciences and Chinese |
$3,000 |
$3,000 |
$3,100 |
95.20% |
94.70% |
90.90% |
85.70% |
84.20% |
77.30% |
|
Medicine (7)* | |||||||||
|
Law (7) |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$5,600 |
97.00% |
93.40% |
97.90% |
95.00% |
88.60% |
95.50% |
|
Medicine (7)** |
$5,300 |
$5,250 |
N.A. |
99.60% |
100.00% |
N.A. |
99.60% |
100.00% |
N.A. |
|
Pharmacy (7) |
$3,750 |
$3,700 |
$3,915 |
100.00% |
99.30% |
95.90% |
95.50% |
93.70% |
91.90% |
How to negotiate salary as a fresh graduate
If you are a fresh graduate applying for a job, there is a moment where you are questioning yourself if a fresh graduate can negotiate salary during a work interview. Considering you don’t have enough professional experience to offer or maybe you’re not confident of yourself yet, the short answer is yes.
You can negotiate salary even if you are a fresh graduate or still unsure about negotiating the salary because this is the first time you deal with this. You totally have the right to negotiate the salary with your potential employer.
There are several tips you can follow to negotiate your salary confidently.
1. Research the salary range and salary trends
It is important for any job seekers to figure out the salary range or salary trends for the job they’re applying for. There are several sites that can help you to figure out the salary range and trends. Gather many information from several sites to get the most precise number.
Here’s you can check salary range: Singapore Salary Guide
In order to find what you need precisely, filter your search to the job title, career field, location, experience, education, and special skills. Usually the more specific details can help you to find what you need effectively.
Actually, the research that you have to do is not only limited by the salary but also the nature of the company you are applying for. The more information you receive about the company, it can help to guide you on what to do to make it work properly.
2. Give them exact number instead of salary ranges
Employers tend to appreciate job seekers who show enthusiasm and act attentive. When they ask you about salary, give them numbers instead of salary ranges. Sometimes starting strong or attentive toward your potential employer can be beneficial for what comes next. It can boost the energy between both to discuss the salary and bring a more dynamic conversation.
In order to shoot the salary number to your potential employer properly, you need to actually do your research properly. That’s why the second tip is closely related to the first tips. Both need to be done properly. Actually do your homework.
3. Be confident when you’re negotiating the salary
While it’s not common to negotiate salary as fresh graduates in Singapore, if you have the chance to negotiate your salary because your potential employers ask you to, know your value. By knowing your value, it should make you express your mind at ease because you have made up your mind. Thus it can give you a confidence boost during negotiating salary.
4. Ask them about benefits
When you’re negotiating the salary, ask them about other benefits that you will receive from the company. Other than salary, consider discussing health benefits, retirement, workplace flexibility, and wellness programs. Also include overtime, medical insurance, vacation, profit sharing, and retirement benefits. By discussing other benefits, both of you can figure out the fair salary that can lead to final agreement.
The workforce environment in Singapore is competitive. The job seeking environment in Singapore is competitive as well and it’s even more competitive for the fresh graduates. It is a challenge for the fresh graduates to get a job that provides them the proper starting salary and benefits as Singapore is ready to reward those who work hard relentlessly.
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