Compare civil service salary

Hi all

I would like to check if there are any mid career ppl out here who quit the private sector to join civil service? Do you get a pay cut? How much?

I have 15yrs experience in private sector. Intend to join ministry but there is a big pay cut as experience is not relevant. Entry grade offered at MX11. Non scholar.

I see many pple here state that they reach MX11 after 5-8yrs in Civil service. I feel short changed as I have so many more years of working experience.

Is there any scheme that will help mid career ppl move up the ranks faster ? Assuming they need an initial 1-2 yrs of assessment before adjusting the mid career ppl to their correct level / original pay scale?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi all

I would like to check if there are any mid career ppl out here who quit the private sector to join civil service? Do you get a pay cut? How much?

I have 15yrs experience in private sector. Intend to join ministry but there is a big pay cut as experience is not relevant. Entry grade offered at MX11. Non scholar.

I see many pple here state that they reach MX11 after 5-8yrs in Civil service. I feel short changed as I have so many more years of working experience.

Is there any scheme that will help mid career ppl move up the ranks faster ? Assuming they need an initial 1-2 yrs of assessment before adjusting the mid career ppl to their correct level / original pay scale?

Hi - sorry to hear that.

I am also offered MX11 and I am also from pte sector or rather GLC. But the salary is not yet proposed to me. Was wondering if you could share if you are earning >6K?

Thanks in advance!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi all

I would like to check if there are any mid career ppl out here who quit the private sector to join civil service? Do you get a pay cut? How much?

I have 15yrs experience in private sector. Intend to join ministry but there is a big pay cut as experience is not relevant. Entry grade offered at MX11. Non scholar.

I see many pple here state that they reach MX11 after 5-8yrs in Civil service. I feel short changed as I have so many more years of working experience.

Is there any scheme that will help mid career ppl move up the ranks faster ? Assuming they need an initial 1-2 yrs of assessment before adjusting the mid career ppl to their correct level / original pay scale?

I think MOE is very transparent about that. If you leave pte sector to join them, be prepared for massive pay cut in return for supposed job security.

My suggestion to you is if you are old already and still hung up about pay and promotions, MOE is not the place for you. You just end up getting frustrated as your peers keep pulling further ahead of you. As a rule of thumb, most teachers do not make it past SGEO 1, i.e. the max pay you will likely get on retirement at 62 in present dollars is 8k+.

Go in with your eyes open and be realistic about pay.

Originally Posted by Bean
2011 Civil Service Salary Range

Job grade: MX9 (Superscale)
Job title: Deputy Director, Director
Pay scale: S$10,580 – S$14,550 / S$14,551 – S$16,540

Job grade: MX10
Job title: Assistant Director, Deputy Director
Pay scale: S$6,350 – S$9,050 / S$9,051 – S$10,400

Job grade: MX11
Job title: Manager, Assistant Director
Pay scale: S$4,100 – S$6,160 / S$6,161 – S$7,190

Job grade: MX12
Job title: Assistant Manager, Manager
Pay scale: S$2,550 – S$5,130

Job grade: MX13
Job title: Management Executive
Pay scale: up to S$2,800 for fresh graduates


anyone has any updated info on the salary range ?? especially for the starting pay of MX11?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I think MOE is very transparent about that. If you leave pte sector to join them, be prepared for massive pay cut in return for supposed job security.

My suggestion to you is if you are old already and still hung up about pay and promotions, MOE is not the place for you. You just end up getting frustrated as your peers keep pulling further ahead of you. As a rule of thumb, most teachers do not make it past SGEO 1, i.e. the max pay you will likely get on retirement at 62 in present dollars is 8k+.

Go in with your eyes open and be realistic about pay.

Agree 101%. Never join MOE with the intention of budiling career, get good increment/promotion. Treat it as bonus if have, otherwise sure disappointment.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi all,

I'm a degree holder with 2 years relevant experience.

Was offered 3.8k to join a stat board. Is it below market rate?

Male, finished ns

there abouts

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi all

I would like to check if there are any mid career ppl out here who quit the private sector to join civil service? Do you get a pay cut? How much?

I have 15yrs experience in private sector. Intend to join ministry but there is a big pay cut as experience is not relevant. Entry grade offered at MX11. Non scholar.

I see many pple here state that they reach MX11 after 5-8yrs in Civil service. I feel short changed as I have so many more years of working experience.
correct level / original pay scale?

What happens with ministry job is private experience are hardly any relevant. Same thing if you move from ministry to pte sector (high flyer, super smart AO scholars could make it big in pte if they really want, however). Pay wise you have to look at yearly civil service bonus as well - abt 3-4 months for C grader, 4-5 months for B and 5-6 months for A grader. Most pte companies don't have this kind of bonuses so you have to factor in as well.

However I must warn you that as a non-scholar and mid-career, you'll see many of your peers at least 5-8 yrs younger than you. Ministries are full of scholars. MA scholars reach MX11 about 3-4 years after graduation. The AO DDs/Ds are in their early 30s. The young DSes could be in mid 30s. Frankly these scholars really have it easy because of academic credentials - and as a result, the ministries have morph into a place that favors this kind of brainy skills. If you don't have it, you're in the loosing end. No different from selection for the gifted program in primary school (and you'll see, many of them are in GEP since young).

Anyway, if you're ok with that, CS is not a bad place to be. However, be prepared to feel unfulfilled and spending your time maneuvering between bureaucracy. I know a few mid-careers who joined ministries - I was one of them, they all left (me included) after 1-2 yrs, since the environment is drastically different from pte and frankly, you don't feel you're contributing to society - just wasting taxpayer's money. It could be different in the statboards, however.

hmm.. if pte experience is hardly relevant, why I am I offered MX11 then? but salary not yet proposed to me. wonder why?

by the way, i think cs offers good work life balance and the regarding the point on scholars i think even in pte sector they exists as well so no diff.

anyone knows the min salary for MX11?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

hmm.. if pte experience is hardly relevant, why I am I offered MX11 then? but salary not yet proposed to me. wonder why?

by the way, i think cs offers good work life balance and the regarding the point on scholars i think even in pte sector they exists as well so no diff.

anyone knows the min salary for MX11?

MX11 is just about 1.5 grade above entry level (new grads starts at MX13 and convert to MX12 in about 1/2 year's time). That just means that they've cut your experience into half. Every job has some transferable skills. It's not possible for them to offer mid-careers with over 5 yrs MX12 as it's the grade for entry levels with 1-2 year's experience. Entry level MX11 make about high 4k to low 5k.

Having been in a ministry myself, the stress level is actually higher than you think - you are directly serving the minister's politican's demand (through the PS and DSs) and my colleagues are constantly on the lookout to respond to e-mails/request even in the weekends/evenings.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

hmm.. if pte experience is hardly relevant, why I am I offered MX11 then? but salary not yet proposed to me. wonder why?

by the way, i think cs offers good work life balance and the regarding the point on scholars i think even in pte sector they exists as well so no diff.

anyone knows the min salary for MX11?

This is a useful forum. Do keep the karma flowing and let us know your salary range when you do receive it.