A typical fresh engineer graduate in Singapore can get how much for his starting pay?

It is about SGD2.5k average.

i am new to singapore and with 2 years experience in helpdesk asking for SGD2500...is it too high?

To get a job there and i want to know the salary range there.. is it one to one?

Looks like more and more are running to SG since everything here is going up soon.

What are the chances of getting a job in consulting and financial sector in singapore with a MEng degree in engineering?

To all those asking questions like "what is the chances?" and "how much can I make?" I don't understand why you won't just try and apply? A lot of the the answers will depend on your industry, the company you apply to, your negotiation skill, your knowledge and experience, your personality, your timing, etc etc. Furthermore, market rates do change. Don't let random strangers on an internet forum discourage you.

There's absolutely nothing wrong for you to apply? Unless somebody can share why he/she wouldn't just try to apply? It will only take 10 minutes to edit your resume and send it out. As for potential salary, don't base your decision on what others are making, you will never be happy. Use that as a guide, but for the most part, you should factor the costs of living in singapore and derive a salary which can sustain your lifestyle similar or better than your lifestyle in Malaysia. If it is more than the so-called market rates, no worries, just apply. Because, if you have to downgrade your quality of life just to work here in singapore, then what is the point? For example, if you are living in a condo with a nice gym and pool which you use at least 3 times a week, eating out at chilli's a few times a month, but in singapore, you'd have to live in a store room in the red light district eating cup noodles every day. What is the point in that?

A bit high to me but you still can try. Some companies don't care about the pay!

I do understand what you mean. I am in my final year of MEng Mechanical Engineering in the UK and I am still deciding where to start from. I heard Singaporeans love to have Malaysians because we are more willing to put up with low salary? I am not sure how far that's true but that is what I heard.

I absolutely agree. Nobody can tell you how much YOU'll make and how easy it is for YOU to get a job. It's really up to your individual ability. Just apply and see lah.


Correct. What you earn is a direct result of how good you are, and how good your company is.

But for the example where one who lives in a condo with a nice gym & pool in KL, will suddenly need to live in a store room in Geyland eating cup noodles... not likely lah.

Rule of thumb, if someone is willing to pay you RM5000 in Malaysia, then someone in Singapore will be willing to pay you around S$5000 in Singapore for the same job. The trick is whether you are worth RM5000 in the first place. If you only earn RM1000 or RM2000 in KL, don't expect miracles in Singapore.

expecting about RM1 to SGD0.8 ration is realistic. but....condo vs hdb. think carefully.

Thanks for the advice and infomation. I am going to start the ball rolling and see what results i will get. The reason why i feel like going down south straight is because that i am able to meet my potential employers easier and faster but i know the risk that comes with it. With my savings, the most i can stay in Singapore without a job will be just two months after which i will have to beg if still remain jobless

I am definitely not a freshie anymore... Actually i have a few years of experience in corporate comm but the only thing that works against me is my media contact in Singapore which is basically zero. In this field, media contact means everything. Maybe i should really start from ground zero if i really want to go there.

for those of you who are thinking of sending money back to malaysia, how do u do it? i only know money order and paypal~ there's a lawyer friend of mine who wants to purchase something from me online~

This post has been edited by sexualpower: Jun 6 2008, 05:55 PM

Thx for e reply dude.


Thanks for your understanding J(O)Y, I was kinda in a rush that day. Nd a direct answer.
Anyway, I managed to bring out of SG 2 bottles of red wine without paying taxes.

Seantang, appreciate for e Custom link but somehow certain description on e custom link is none of layman term such as fortified, fermented, still wine. Even if we're to bring in rice dumpling during this festive "Duan Wu Jie", dumpling rice are not allowed to bring in to SG as well even though the link given does not specifically mentioned on this.


Hope there's more forumers willing to share more info on how they save on food cost and on taxable or non-taxable food product.

"Happy Dumpling Fest"

Customs regulations won't mention every type of food. Dumplings should be under 'processed food' and if I'm not mistaken, there is no limit except for the total amount brought into Singapore to be under a certain $ amount, to prevent you from commercial importing (and therefore dutiable). Customs restrictions are usually for uncooked, raw and unprocessed food.

In any case, there will always be an email address there. Sg govt agencies are quite responsive to emails and queries, so email them and get firsthand advice from the horse's mouth. The customs doesn't stop and check every person. So what some people say can get through, might not actually get through if they were checked.

This post has been edited by seantang: Jun 8 2008, 05:10 PM

i got an offer for contract sg IT job which through the agent. The agent will be negotiating the salary & benefits behalf of me.

i would like to know whether the higher salary package i got better for the agent or lower the better?

Do my salary will be lowering down due to through agent?

This post has been edited by rockdaman: Jun 9 2008, 05:41 PM

any recruiting agent here? wanted help to land a IT job in Singapore? mainly BI experience. PM me for resume. Thanks

For the Agent the higher your salary u get, the higher his commission. Generally thats the arrangement, but depends, mayb they got arrangement based on no. of individuals instead of salary amount. If thats the case, the lower ur salary the easier for him to strike the deal.

But normally commission based on salary is the common one.

ANyway, thats the commission part. If the agent is for real, they will be more concern on the candidates suitability. If u turn out to be a bad candidate/employee after getting u in, the agent's image will be bad..

Anyone here working at sg as a biotech or any applied science job there?? can i know if there a wide job scope there?? thx

I m also thinking the same way...the higher pay the higher commission agent is getting.