SINGAPORE: Is S$4,500 actually that unhealthy for a recent grad?
A neighborhood college pupil who will likely be graduating in 2026 shared on social media that she has already began making use of for jobs, and to her shock, she obtained a everlasting provide paying S$4,500 a month, with a mean bonus of 1 to 2 months.
Nevertheless, in a submit on the r/askSingapore subreddit, she admitted that she has been having second ideas about accepting the provide as a result of her mates and oldsters maintain telling her that she “ought to intention greater.” In accordance with them, somebody along with her background ought to no less than be a beginning wage of S$5,000.
“My friends and oldsters suppose the pay is low,” she wrote. “It’s a place in an MNC, doing provide planning and operations. There are some course of enchancment initiatives, however a lot of the day-to-day work includes operations and coordination.”
The coed added that she has additionally been making use of to graduate packages on the aspect, questioning if they may result in higher prospects. “Many grad packages provide rotation alternatives over 2–3 years, however there’s a threat because the firm won’t have a everlasting touchdown place afterwards. Nonetheless, these packages can speed up your profession,” she defined.
Uncertain which path to take, she requested different Reddit customers for his or her ideas.
“S$4.5k is okay. Simply take it on this financial system.”
Within the feedback, many Singaporean Redditors urged the scholar to take the provide, saying that with how powerful the job market is, she’s truly fairly fortunate to have secured one so early.
One person stated, “To not be imply or something, however the job market is fairly gloomy currently for recent grads. I’ve recognized mates who graduated this yr who nonetheless haven’t secured any everlasting job function but.”
“Sure, pay is essential, however let’s be trustworthy, it most likely provides head begin. What’s extra essential in the long term is to be employable for years to come back.”
One other identified, “S$4.5k low? you ask them 0 or S$4.5k, which is best? Some postgrads are jobless for half a yr or much more.
A 3rd commenter even did the maths, saying, “S$4.5k with 1-2 months bonus? S$4.5×13.5/12 = S$5.06k. You do recover from S$5k a month. What’s the grievance?”
A fourth shared, “Bruh, in ops and planning, my beginning pay was S$2.4k simply final yr, although it’s S$2.8k now. S$4.5k is okay. Simply take it on this financial system.”
Nonetheless, not everybody agreed that she ought to bounce on the provide immediately. A number of customers suggested her to take a step again and consider the provide extra rigorously.
One wrote that, apart from the wage package deal, she ought to contemplate components similar to her diploma and talent set, what sort of expertise she would achieve from the function, her present monetary scenario, and whether or not she has any urgent commitments, similar to money owed or household help obligations.
“If you need, you’ll be able to evaluate to the Graduate Employment Survey outcomes,” the person added. “It’s very laborious for strangers on-line to make a judgment name for you. Should you really feel prefer it’s too low to your expectations, then maintain making use of and see what gives you will get. Should you can’t get greater, then that tells you one thing.”
Outcomes from the 2024 Joint Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey present that the median gross wage of latest graduates has gone up by 4.2% in 2024, rising from S$4,317 to S$4,500.
Median salaries within the enterprise sector went up probably the most, growing from S$4,150 in 2023 to S$4,400 in 2024. In the meantime, these employed in arts, design, and media had the smallest improve, from S$3,740 in 2023 to S$3,800 in 2024.
Learn extra: Wage for recent graduates greater in 2024, however fewer have been employed 6 months after ending uni
