Engineering and Technology Careers are Not Valued - Singapore is "High Cost Low Tech"

@Nicholas
wow!! 2 years experience got 5k..the annual increment damn high in oil industry...i assume ur starting pay around 3.2 to 3.5k.

Guys, engineering is like the tortoise in the race, while finance industry is like the proverbial rabbit. As a rabbit you get high returns but your energy burns out fast, while as a tortoise if you can go on strong and steady for 10 years you will enjoy a relatively stress-free career and high returns.

PE is the short term for professional engineer and their going pay is 10K a month at least - I know of plenty and they are not expats, just singaporeans like you and me who stick to their jobs, build up on experience and reap their just harvests.

A young banking yuppie might earn 10K a month, but let's see if he can sustain over the next 10 years. He will be able to hold on (burning his life out in the process) or change to a much less stressful job.

You decide which path you will choose ^^

PE, I totally agree with your comments. I am a strong believer of the supply and demand theory. From a personal and selfish point of view, I am very happy to see friends and many people giving up on engineering and trying out their luck in the banking sector. I mean, don't even hesitate. Just go for the glamour and glittering career in the banking sector. I look forward to the day when there are a shortage of engineering talents and people like myself will reap the benefits. And at the rate of talent depletion in engineering, I believe that the day is not too far off. I truly enjoy seeing the high oil price environment and I still get to enjoy relatively comfortable salary at a relatively low stress working environment. So to all the students who despise engineers and want to put on your branded ties and cuff links bankers wanna be, pls go all out to pursue your dreams. Good luck!

hi nicholas, tats just becos u r in the chemical engineering industry, not all engineering jobs are created equal...

Why do people think bankers lead a stressful life? I know some who are so relaxed they grow obese, and are paid by millions. I also know engineers who slog all their lives, on standby for 24 by 7, and still get miserably paid.
A case of sour grapes perhaps?

which Engineering industry pay u the most after working 2yrs from fresh grad...(excluded OT pay)

Electronic>>>no
Aerospace>>no
Chemical>>yes good example is Nicholas
civil>>no
marine>>no

bankers who are stress free and earn millions compared with engineers who slog like hell and earn nothing is like comparing the cream of the crop with the bottom of the bucket.

remember we should look at majority at the whole - it could also well be the other way round. I also know of CTOs and PEs earning high 6 figure salaries per annum and bankers who earn a puny sum for their hard work.

it's illogical saying sour grapes just to defend the industry you are in. Ler's be objective.

Maybe my comparisons are a little extreme. But i still think people in the finance industry here in Singapore make more money across the board. Look at the starting pay, look at the average pay, median pay, number of millionaire employees. Further, the number of CTOs and PEs aren't a lot compared to SVPs or private bankers or ibankers. And if engineering is that good, u don't need an MP and an ex-perm sec to come out to say engineering is worth the while. And unis and polys won't have engineering as dumping grounds. And SMU and NUS BUS won't be competing for top students for their business courses.

Whenever the subject of rich people comes up, one of the first things that people always say is that: "Just because they're rich doesn't mean they're happy", or some variations of the same thing.
I wonder why.
After all, when we see poor people, we don't feel compelled to say: "Just because they're poor doesn't mean they're sad."

my fren is only 30.
he works in the banking industry, goes to office at 930 & knocks off promptly at 6, & his monthly salary is 5 figure.