Singapore Expats

Hi All

We are moving from US to Singapore. We need some advise on the pay scale for a 9+ years experienced Windows Systems Engineer. I am getting an offer from a MNC. I am getting mixed information on this. I have heard S$70K annually is a good salary and some say it is average. I will be relocating with my wife and a 1 year old kid. What would be an ideal salary i can negotiate with this company ?

Your help is very much appreciated.

DS

All opinions on a particular salary range are just that. Opinions. Depending on the answerer, 70K might be fine or might be half of what it should be. A lot depends on where the person is from. An asian would think 70K is okay as a starting point and for lots of asians, this would be excellent. However, if you are an American Citizen or from the UK, Aus or other western country and are not in these countries via immigration or work permits, then it's possible that the rate is too low. Too many variables.

What is a windows systems engineer? Building M&E with a niche?

Or are you talking about Windoze Systems Engineer, e.g. IT? If that's the case, they are a dime a dozen here and if you have an offer of 70K you better grab it IF it's just because you want to come to Singapore.

Thanks for your response. I am a Indian citizen with few years of US experience.

You are right. It depends on the answerer. However, i was expecting a ball park figure for my experience in the Information Technology field and my specialization is Windows System Administration. I know we will have lots of people with this profile and hence getting a number (pay scale) is always difficult.

May be a person in the same field as mine can give me added information. Lets see.

Thanks Again.

I would say the salary is about right.
Have a look at this guide:
http://www.kellyservices.com.sg/res/con ... 9_2010.pdf

Here the salary doesnt really vary that much with experience for software jobs. A person with 1 year exp would probably also be able to do the same job. But still they would prefer a person with atleast 5 years experience. So 5 years exp or 20 years exp doenst matter here if you doing the same job.

You could probably negotiate for another 500$ per month extra anything more is tough luck.

I have noticed off late lots of Indians are leaving US and coming to Singapore. Interesting!

Backlash against foreigners taking citizens' jobs isn't just in Singapore.

sundaymorningstaple wrote:All opinions on a particular salary range are just that. Opinions. Depending on the answerer, 70K might be fine or might be half of what it should be. A lot depends on where the person is from. An asian would think 70K is okay as a starting point and for lots of asians, this would be excellent. However, if you are an American Citizen or from the UK, Aus or other western country and are not in these countries via immigration or work permits, then it's possible that the rate is too low. Too many variables.

What is a windows systems engineer? Building M&E with a niche?

Or are you talking about Windoze Systems Engineer, e.g. IT? If that's the case, they are a dime a dozen here and if you have an offer of 70K you better grab it IF it's just because you want to come to Singapore.

why would "An asian would think 70K is ok" while others do not?

care to elaborate?

If you don't know the answer to that, go ask your lecturer. Everybody else here understands. Only schoolboys don't.

jessie11 wrote:
why would "An asian would think 70K is ok" while others do not?

care to elaborate?

Here let me help you, lets look at it from a maths perspective.

London tube drivers average salary about S$84k (Singapore dollars)
Singapore MRT driver salary I guess about S$ 24k

So lets say a local driver and a UK driver saw an advert in the Tube Monthly saying MRT drivers wanted salary 30k! Who do you think will apply for the job?

Take another example, recently there was a thread discussing Singlish, ignore the OP of that thread, he appears to be posting from The Ministry of Mental Heath Bipolar ward, or was reared by an underpaid scrap eating maid while both his parents worked, so a bit angry, anyway in that thread there was a person who highlighted school teachers salaries, what is being offered locally would not get the average UK teacher out of bed.

So hopefully you can now see why a local Asian would more likely accept the lower offer?

QRM wrote: Take another example, recently there was a thread discussing Singlish, ignore the OP of that thread, he appears to be posting from The Ministry of Mental Heath Bipolar ward,

QRM, you are funny!