Hi everyone, long time lurker of this sub. Finally creating an account to share both my current and upcoming salaries since I just got a new offer.

Current Job

Job Title: Fullstack Software Engineer

Job Description:
- Worked on a HR-based SaaS with multiple modules (payroll, recruitment, performance, etc.)
- Technically, I create components mocked up by UIUX and plug in required data from APIs (which I also create + modify)
- Testing and hotfixing bugs and issues that arise
- Tech stack used: Angular 9, NodeJS

Age: 23

Years spent in company: 2 years

Company: Startup

Industry: IT

Employment Level: Permanent staff

Experience before joining (years): 0 + 2 (fresh grad + 2 years of freelancing experience during degree)

Highest paper qualification/ education background: Degree in Computer Science

Location: Kuala Lumpur

Average Working Hours Per Week: ~35 hours (<7 hours/day)

Monetary Payout:
Basic Salary:
- RM4k during 6 months probation
- RM4.5k post probation
- RM5k after 1 year

Benefits:
- Unlimited paid leave
- Flexible working hours
- Remote work (relevant before pandemic was a thing?)
- Medical Insurance
- Medical claims capped at RM1000/yearly

Flexi Working Hours: Yes

Bonus: RM3k

-------------------------------

Upcoming Job

Job Title: Frontend Software Engineer

Job Description:
- Create and manage their upcoming web app from scratch (They a mobile-based, now big enough to make the move to web platform)
- Discuss and collaborate with Product Manager + UIUX to determine best approach of the web app (in reference to existing mobile app)
- Collaborate with backend engineers to modify existing APIs for the web app

Age: 25

Company: Startup

Industry: IT

Employment Level: Permanent staff

Experience before joining (years): 2 years of professional experience + 3.5 years of freelancing experience (Worked on freelance gigs even as a permanent staff)

Highest paper qualification/ education background: Degree in Computer Science

Location: Kuala Lumpur

Monetary Payout:
Basic Salary:
- RM7k + RM500 in stock options

Benefits:
- 14 days of annual leave
- 14 days of medical / mental health leave (No MCs / doctors' referral required)
- Flexible working hours
- 100% remote work (Company is SG-based)
- Medical Insurance
- Flexible remote working claims (Claims to purchase equipment needed to work from home, allowance to co-working spaces, etc.)

Gadget Benefits:
- Macbook Pro

Flexi Working Hours: Yes


Would love to get your opinion on this career jump. I asked my future employer whether there are chances of moving over to SG once the pandemic subsides, and they said it is something they look forward to, subject to employment pass approvals. My compensation package also changes accordingly. I feel a bit confused here because they are outsourcing dev work and saving significantly (the offer is 50% of a fresh grad's rate in SG). Does it make sense for them to double my salary when I eventually do make the move to SG?

Also, this offer represents a 40% increment from my previous job, although I can't help but feel like I got lowballed because I told them my current salary. Regardless, this is a good offer and I do feel bad for complaining.

My company also provides the benefit of unlimited leave, although this is eventually subjected to approval of my supervisor (I've never been rejected, took 20 days worth of leave over the past year to date). I think it's because my company size is small, and it is a mutual understanding based on professionalism and trust in the employee that they will get their job done and not neglect their responsibilities.

As I am working with an employer outside of Malaysia, I will have to pay for my own EPF and taxes. With a total monthly payment of 7k, my gross is really just ~RM6150.

Despite feeling low balled, I believe the experience and one foot into SG will be worth it in the long run

I guess you are right. Not only are they hiring in Malaysia, but also in other third world countries such as Vietnam, India for the dev team. When you mention of an internal role, do you mean to say a position above what I'm currently doing within the same company? For example, transitioning from a software engineer to a product manager?

If you mean to look for internal roles in SG outside of the company, it would be quite hard since I am fully remote and do not really have an employment pass to work with

I personally don't see a reason not to stick with the 9%+12% contribution, its sort of disciplining myself to supporting my retirement fund. However, I am curious whether there is a minimum amount to contribute?

PCB also seems to be much more hassle free and I think I would just tell myself that I'm essentially getting "cashback" after taxes are returned.

That's how I would like to perceive these two so it doesn't get to me too much, haha.

Overall I am content with my net, it's still a good bump from my current salary, so can't really complain there!

I don't think so, simply because I am not based in Singapore and am under a contractor agreement.