Looking for a new role or preparing for a salary negotiation? You’re not alone — and you don’t have to guess what you're worth.
One of the most empowering things you can do as a job seeker is to understand the market rate for your skills and experience. Whether you're stepping into a new industry or aiming for your next promotion, knowing your value helps you make confident, informed decisions — and advocate for yourself effectively.
Keep in mind, there are a few things that can influence your earning potential:
The size and stage of the company matter — bigger, more established firms often have different pay scales than startups.
The demand in your industry also plays a big role; jobs that are in high demand usually come with higher salaries.
And of course, your own experience and qualifications are key. Being able to clearly show how your skills and achievements match what the role needs can really boost your value.
Here’re our top four strategies to help you find a realistic and up-to-date salary range for your target role in Singapore:
1. Start with Trusted Salary Guides
Every year, recruitment firms publish salary guides based on thousands of job placements. These guides are an excellent starting point to get a sense of what employers are paying for roles like yours. You usually have to give your email to access them, but they’re based on validated data used by employers — and in our experience, they result in little to no spam
💡 Tip: Find the job title that best matches your skills and responsibilities — not just your current job title. Look at Ranges, Not Just Averages: Pay attention to the entire salary range (e.g., 25th percentile, median/50th percentile, 75th percentile). This gives you a better understanding of potential variations.
2. Use MyCareersFuture.sg for Real Job Listings with Salaries
Here’s a little-known advantage: All job ads on MyCareersFuture.sg must include a salary range.
This means you can see exactly what companies are offering for similar roles — in real time.
Type in your desired job title (e.g. “Operations Manager” or “UX Designer”)
Add your key skills to give you a closer role match
Filter by industry, job level, or employment type
Review a few listings to see if they match your job scope and jot down the common salary ranges
This is one of the most transparent ways to benchmark salaries in Singapore.
3. Ask, Don’t Assume — Talk to Recruiters
It’s okay not to know everything — and that’s where speaking to a recruiter or HR professional can really help. Many recruiters are happy to share salary benchmarks during a casual conversation or discovery call.
If you're working with a recruiter already, ask:
“What’s the typical salary range for this role?”
“Where does my experience fit within that range?”
You might be surprised how willing people are to help you understand your market worth
4. Stay updated and understand data limitations
When using these tools, make sure you're staying up to date — salary trends can shift pretty quickly. Here are some tips to consider:
If you're job hunting or getting ready for a performance review, aim to use the most recent info you can find, ideally from the past 6 to 12 months.
Don't rely on just one source — check a few different websites or tools to get a more accurate picture.
Understand the scope of what you’re looking at.
Pay close attention to whether the numbers include just base salary or if they also factor in bonuses, stock options, or other types of compensation.
That said, it’s good to remember that salary data isn’t perfect. A lot of it is self-reported, which means it can be a bit off or out of date. Online calculators are helpful, but they’re just estimates, not guarantees. Use all of this info as a guide to help you feel confident and prepared — not as something to quote as a hard rule in negotiations.
It’s not all about the money
While salary is important, it’s not the whole picture. Be sure to also consider:
Bonuses and commissions
Flexible work or remote options
Learning and development opportunities
Healthcare or wellness benefits
Career growth potential
These elements can make a big difference in your total compensation — and your happiness.
Researching your salary range may feel overwhelming at first, but it's one of the most empowering things you can do in your job search. You deserve to feel confident and prepared when discussing your next opportunity.
Remember: This isn't just about a paycheck — it's about recognising and communicating your true value.
For tips on how to approach this conversation with confidence, check out this short video: Navigating and Negotiating Your Role/Salary — it’s packed with practical advice to support your next step.
