SMU Fresh Grads Make $4k to $10k

By the replies, can I conclude that $3040 is sufficient only for survival mode (ie. enough to feed the family, have a small house and pay bills) and not enough for comfortable living? Yes, No? If so then what's the big news that it needs to be published in the national newspapers? Should we feel sad or happy that one is earning $3040 after 20 years of education? I am only talking about salary itself, nothing else.

To RE, I think you look down on beer ladies. It's also a job. Sell curry puff also can make $100k a year. Shampoo boy can also become millionaire celebrity(David Gan). Btw, I have a degree and I see myself as very normal. Degree only ma. Everybody have. Please be humble. I think you have forgotten about Sars. Yes you can climb very high, you can also drop very fast. Captain pilot with >20 years experience also can get retrenched by SIA during Sars. Anything can happen. You can call me stupid and other names, it's ok.

To know why many people with a $3040 monthly pay can "magically" buy so many things, read this post. Fantastic writeup.

http://muhammad-ridzwan.blogspot.com/2007/02/bankrupt-mat.html

To : wait and wait

Nah i didnt mean that, but im positive that a degree education is by no means wasted and unworthy of pursing. and im not calling you names

wait&wait, thanks for the link. Good writeup. My last two bosses get a 5-figure salary, and they don't even have a car. No need, they say. MRT so good already. (Which I agree totally.)

My personal opinion is that one must earn at least $6k net take home monthly (about $7k before CPF) to comfortably own a small jap car (say corolla) without having to sacrifice the quality of life in other areas.

Therefore $3040 is definitely not alot. Since it is not alot, why is it in the newspapers? My wild guess is that it is a SMU advertisement. Why the chicken rice seller earning $3k to $10k per month not in newspapers?

wait and see: its because its a starting salary, not a retirement salary... if you are still earning $3k mid career, then its nothing to boast about...

Hi e, pls read my previous comments on starting pay. Last year some new condos are launching their units at about $1000 psf, this year the same condos launching the remaining units at about $900 psf. It dropped! Starting pay and property launching prices are similiar. Doesn't mean next year will be higher. It can be paycut. Forget about starting pay or ending pay. If you earn $3040 today means you earn $3040 today. Period. Tomorrow we might die of earthquake. Who knows what will happen 10 years later?? Do you understand what I mean? Cheers!!

Its clear that salaries only go up and not down unless in a rare situation, do compare the chances. $3040 starting pay is really high btw

Property prices only go up and not down? Sure? Haha..

Let's not go off-topic. To wait and wait, I believe some of the comments that salary will indeed go up is not at all ridiculous. Most salaries do incrementally increase, though the rate of that increment is highly variable.

In the end, it boils down to the industry again. Marketing or accounting graduates may get a starting pay of 2.4k to 3.3k but it is statistically shown that in 10 years (if you do perform), a marketing director is capable of earning more than 10k a month. A full-time property or insurance agent may take home basic pay of 2k a month but their commissions enable them a 5-digit remuneration once they secure their client base.

Potential benefits of one's career is probably not going to decrease if one is willing to work hard. The net present value of future salaries however, would depend on the industry that one is in.