Not trying to pour cold water but my degree is from unknown private school. Working in the same place as my NTU/NUS co-workers, same role, doing the same **** work and I'm earning about the same amount and a lot younger.

Elite schools or not, you've gotta put in a lot of effort and hard work in order move up corporate ladder. It's a career progression of many years span. If you think that you are from NUS and employer has to respect you and pay you a lot more then it's wrong thinking. It doesn't matter how you start but how you end, does it?