Singapore woman wonders if S$8.5K monthly pay is the new norm after hearing what tech workers earn

A Singaporean woman expressed her dissatisfaction after discovering that many individuals in the tech industry, including those within her circle, earn salaries exceeding S$8,500 a month. She shared her thoughts on the r/singaporeslips forum, stating, "I feel so down. I discovered so many people earning S$8+k around me (Tech). That’s 6 digits annually." Her post quickly gained attention, sparking a heated discussion among Singaporean Redditors who shared their views on the matter.

One user noted that salaries of this magnitude are not uncommon, particularly in high-paying industries such as "big tech and investment banking." They explained that the average employee in these sectors earns five figures monthly, and one can witness the disparity by observing the queues for affordable meals in the Central Business District (CBD).

The user emphasized that wages in the private sector, especially in lucrative industries, are generally higher than those in the government sector. Another comment highlighted that while fresh graduates in tech are receiving offers of S$8,000 or more, the pay scale varies significantly within the industry.

A third respondent pointed out that the average salary for tech professionals is approximately S$8,000, although they cautioned against comparing salaries across different roles and emphasized that the value of money has decreased over time. The fourth comment suggested that the increasing number of high-paying positions is due to the rising cost of living, making an S$5,000 salary equivalent to what it was worth in 2020.