Let me add a bit on the public sector.

I have been in public sector for more than 10 years. Doing tech all the way way, from swe to tech lead role. More recently doing AI stuff.

Yes, you can fall into the project management role and let your skills rot, but if you truly are passionate, you can upkeep your skills.

Some advantages of public tech:
- you get to try many things. Depending on your role, you are not constrained to a specific tech stack, unlike if you work for FAANG kind of companies. Public sector like to experiment with different technologies so you can learn a lot from your time there.
- training. Public is all about training, they will send you for courses to upskill.
- overseas exposure. Depending on your role, you may be sent overseas for collaboration or training or further studies. You won't get these opportunities in private tech. (Or rarely)
- home ground advantage. Yes this is something more sensitive, but it's true that you get natural protection against tech talent from overseas. You generally work with Singaporeans and culturally you can relate and fit better with them. Being a local tech talent is a rarity and you are treated with respect.
-protection against ageism. Again another sensitive issue. In the tech world, no body says it, but you are judged by your age. Salaries tend to plateau over time and experience beyond 10 years generally does not count. In the public sector, no matter what, experience will count. No one will fire you for being old and with a high salary.

Your career will be a long one, think strategically. The benefits of the public tech generally materialises towards the second half of your career. You get protection from ageism and can still enjoy doing technical work. You don’t have the stress of needing to justify for your salary and always looking over your shoulder for a younger talent from overseas who may take over your job.

In terms of salary, I researched this aspect extensively. From looking at levels.fyi to blind etc… the short answer is that you don’t lose out. if you play your cards well, you do not lose out to private tech, except to FAANG. Even then, 10-15% less for a better work life balance well into your 40s and 50s when you have responsibilities like kids and aging parents is a pretty good tradeoff. You can use the extra time to do your own hobbies like investments and be assured of a job.