Flying instructors have emerged as Singapore's top earners, with a median gross monthly salary of $20,000. Following closely behind are foreign exchange brokers at $19,750 and in-house legal counsel at $17,972.

The latest Occupational Wage Survey released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in August unveiled these salary figures. The survey, conducted from July to December 2024, covered a representative sample of 407,800 full-time resident employees from private sector companies with at least 25 employees each.

Bus attendants, civil engineering and building construction laborers, and laundry and dry cleaning workers are among the lowest earners, with median salaries ranging from $1,400 to $1,560.

At the 75th percentile, flying instructors still lead with a salary of $30,000. However, those at the 25th percentile earn $8,050, highlighting a significant pay gap within the profession.

Company size also plays a role in salary discrepancies, with flying instructors at larger firms with at least 200 employees earning significantly more than their counterparts at smaller outfits.

According to MOM data, the best-paid roles for men include flying instructors, foreign exchange brokers, in-house legal counsel, oil and bunker traders, and economists, with median salaries ranging from $16,808 to $20,000. On the other hand, women in top-earning positions are in-house lawyers, chief information/technology/security officers, foreign exchange dealers, chief operating officers or general managers, and commercial airline pilots, with median salaries ranging from $12,179 to $17,477.

Gender-based pay disparities persist in some professions, with varying median salaries between male and female counterparts. However, in occupations like executive search consultant, auxiliary police officer, masseur, and foot reflexologist, there is no gender-based pay gap.

The survey also highlighted the highest median earners among different age groups, with software and app managers, in-house lawyers, and foreign exchange dealers leading among younger professionals aged 25 to 29. In their 40s, flying instructors, in-house lawyers, trade brokers, and oil and bunker traders all reach a median salary of $20,000.

It is important to note that the reported gross salaries include basic and overtime pay, commissions, allowances, and other regular cash payments, excluding employers' CPF contributions, bonuses, stock options, and payments in kind.

MOM advises against year-on-year comparisons due to potential fluctuations in wage changes. In a separate set of data released in January, the median pay for full-time resident employees in 2024 was reported at $4,860, excluding employers' CPF contributions and including public sector employees.