Engineer Pay

Originally Posted by LeoV218

Hi yes i understand that Degree is the only option for higher salary, but honestly i m a lazy person, i am looking for easy and relax alternative to achieve my goal. Degree really very hard, i see my friends doing part time NTU and work, a 4 yrs programme if i am not wrong, wah lau i see their assignments i also sian ahhh. So i am thinking about just doing a Advanced Diploma programme and 骗吃 at least can earn above 4K then i am contented already 😄

Ok I understand your point. You're also in your 40s right? early 40s? or late 40s?

If you plan to work for the next 15+ years right? It's really more worth it to get a degree because your pay will scale higher with more experience.

With diploma / advanced diploma, it's capped so no matter how hard you work, it's still capped. That's how Singapore is anyway unless you join some American MNC or EU Company.

[LeoV218]

Early 40s. I see so Advanced Diploma is not worthy of my time n money lah. To study degree not easy, i see all those complicated calculus i really want to vomit blood ahhh. Grad from Poly till now so many years back all my engineering maths knowledge i already return back to my lecturer liao haha.

Originally Posted by LeoV218

Early 40s. I see so Advanced Diploma is not worthy of my time n money lah. To study degree not easy, i see all those complicated calculus i really want to vomit blood ahhh. Grad from Poly till now so many years back all my engineering maths knowledge i already return back to my lecturer liao haha.

It's ok bro, just do what you feel is good for you slowly at your own pace Use job hopping to up your pay. For engineers, I think experience matters much more. Your pay can get large jumps when you hop between MNCs.

[LeoV218]

Oh i see. Yah i know job hopping is one of the best alternative to up my pay, but i only hop between SME companies. Honestly i haven't ever tried MNC companies yet haha. Perhaps is time for me to shift in this year of rabbit ������

Originally Posted by LeoV218

Oh i see. Yah i know job hopping is one of the best alternative to up my pay, but i only hop between SME companies. Honestly i haven't ever tried MNC companies yet haha. Perhaps is time for me to shift in this year of rabbit ������

Haha it's ok, don't need to rush too. All the best!!

[LeGozt]

Small update to my current situation as I have just changed jobs! Thought that my experience might be helpful to some.

A key question that I was asking at that time when I was considering changing jobs was whether taking up a contract role would diminish my negotioating power when moving on from that role, as it is known in the industry that contract roles pay slightly more in exchange for less job stability. I thought that when changing from company A contract to company B perm, I would at best get the same package as company A.

Happy to say that this was not the case. My new package after changing companies in a perm role S$124,500 as compared to my previous at S$103,600, which is approximately a 20% bump. Company medical and dental benefits is even more generous than before, which was surprising as I was previously in a large pharmaceutical company.

My job scope is still quality related, in an individual contributor role.

In summary,


1st year: part time role in a startup, S$1,000/mth working 50%
2nd year: converted to contract role in same startup, S$3,200/mth
3rd year: promotion, contract S$3,650/mth
4th year: moved to MNC, perm S$4,400/mth
5th year: no change, S$4,400/mth
6th year: moved to another MNC, S$6,750/mth contract role
7th year: 10% increment to S$7,450, still contract role
8th year: moved to different industry (F&B), S$9,400 perm role

Granted every situation is different but this might be a useful datapoint for those who might find themselves in a similar situation.

[LeoV218]

Hi just curious to know. If i m a Degree holder. Join a MNC company. Work performance normal normal average average only. Manager assign me some tasks, i slowly do, but still can complete d tasks s given. Will i still be able to get my pay increment consistently every year??

Originally Posted by LeoV218

Hi just curious to know. If i m a Degree holder. Join a MNC company. Work performance normal normal average average only. Manager assign me some tasks, i slowly do, but still can complete d tasks s given. Will i still be able to get my pay increment consistently every year??

Without promotion expect the % ranging from 3-7% from my past experience with 3 MNCs. Unless layoff happens, hiring and increment freeze.

Best performers will get some more % but not very significant. The major difference btw performers and normal normal performers are in bonus either cash or stock and how fast they get promoted.

Originally Posted by LeGozt

Small update to my current situation as I have just changed jobs! Thought that my experience might be helpful to some.

A key question that I was asking at that time when I was considering changing jobs was whether taking up a contract role would diminish my negotioating power when moving on from that role, as it is known in the industry that contract roles pay slightly more in exchange for less job stability. I thought that when changing from company A contract to company B perm, I would at best get the same package as company A.

Happy to say that this was not the case. My new package after changing companies in a perm role S$124,500 as compared to my previous at S$103,600, which is approximately a 20% bump. Company medical and dental benefits is even more generous than before, which was surprising as I was previously in a large pharmaceutical company.

My job scope is still quality related, in an individual contributor role.

In summary,


1st year: part time role in a startup, S$1,000/mth working 50%
2nd year: converted to contract role in same startup, S$3,200/mth
3rd year: promotion, contract S$3,650/mth
4th year: moved to MNC, perm S$4,400/mth
5th year: no change, S$4,400/mth
6th year: moved to another MNC, S$6,750/mth contract role
7th year: 10% increment to S$7,450, still contract role
8th year: moved to different industry (F&B), S$9,400 perm role

Granted every situation is different but this might be a useful datapoint for those who might find themselves in a similar situation.

which engineering sector are you working in

Originally Posted by LeGozt

Small update to my current situation as I have just changed jobs! Thought that my experience might be helpful to some.

A key question that I was asking at that time when I was considering changing jobs was whether taking up a contract role would diminish my negotioating power when moving on from that role, as it is known in the industry that contract roles pay slightly more in exchange for less job stability. I thought that when changing from company A contract to company B perm, I would at best get the same package as company A.

Happy to say that this was not the case. My new package after changing companies in a perm role S$124,500 as compared to my previous at S$103,600, which is approximately a 20% bump. Company medical and dental benefits is even more generous than before, which was surprising as I was previously in a large pharmaceutical company.

My job scope is still quality related, in an individual contributor role.

In summary,


1st year: part time role in a startup, S$1,000/mth working 50%
2nd year: converted to contract role in same startup, S$3,200/mth
3rd year: promotion, contract S$3,650/mth
4th year: moved to MNC, perm S$4,400/mth
5th year: no change, S$4,400/mth
6th year: moved to another MNC, S$6,750/mth contract role
7th year: 10% increment to S$7,450, still contract role
8th year: moved to different industry (F&B), S$9,400 perm role

Granted every situation is different but this might be a useful datapoint for those who might find themselves in a similar situation.

Doesnt seems to be from electrical/mechanical engineering. software engineering?