Post by : Meena Ariff

Flying instructors have emerged as the highest-paid professionals in Singapore, according to the latest Occupational Wage Survey released by the Ministry of Manpower in August. The findings revealed that these aviation trainers earn a median gross monthly salary of S$20,000 (RM65,400), putting them at the very top of the nation’s earnings list.

High Earnings in Aviation Training

The survey showed that flying instructors not only lead in average salaries but also demonstrate one of the widest gaps between the lower and higher earners in the same role. Those at the 25th percentile earn about S$8,050, while those in the 75th percentile earn as much as S$30,000 a month.

Aviation specialists explained that this gap is largely due to differences in experience and the type of training provided. Instructors who have spent 15 to 20 years as commercial airline pilot trainers can command some of the highest salaries, while those working with private students or helping beginners build flight hours typically earn much less.

Other Top-Paying Professions

Flying instructors are followed closely by foreign exchange brokers, who earn a median of S$19,750 monthly. In-house legal counsel also ranks high, with a median salary of S$17,972, placing them in the third spot on the list of Singapore’s best-paid jobs.

These figures highlight the importance of specialized skills and professional expertise in driving salaries upwards in Singapore’s private sector job market.

Lowest-Paid Workers Face Big Gap

While some professions command sky-high wages, others sit at the bottom of the salary ladder. Bus attendants, civil engineering labourers, and laundry workers are among the lowest-paid workers in the country, earning between S$1,400 and S$1,560 a month.

The gap between the highest-paid flying instructors and the lowest-paid workers shows the sharp income divide across different industries in Singapore.

Survey Method and Coverage

The Occupational Wage Survey was carried out between July and December 2024, covering a representative group of 407,800 full-time resident employees. The survey focused only on the private sector, looking at companies with at least 25 employees.

Importantly, public sector employees were excluded, meaning that salaries for government jobs such as air force flying instructors and state-employed lawyers were not part of the results.

Company Size Matters in Pay

The survey also revealed that company size plays a crucial role in determining salaries. Flying instructors working in large firms with over 200 employees earn nearly S$13,000 more each month compared to their counterparts in smaller companies.

This suggests that bigger companies, with greater resources and stronger training programs, can afford to pay their instructors much more than smaller aviation schools or private training businesses.

Gender-Based Pay Gaps Still Exist

Despite progress in workplace equality, the survey highlighted that gender-based pay gaps remain in Singapore.

• Male employees generally earn more in professions such as economists, HR consultants, and IT quality assurance specialists.

• On the other hand, female employees earn more than men in fields like security operations and beauty services, where women continue to dominate the workforce.

This imbalance shows that while some industries are closing the gender pay gap, others still reflect differences in income based on gender.

Age and Experience Drive Salaries Up

Experience and age also play important roles in shaping income across different professions. Workers in fields like aviation training, in-house legal counsel, and oil trading reach their highest earning power in their 40s, with median monthly salaries around S$20,000.

However, the pattern is not the same across all industries. For instance:

• Securities dealers, executive search consultants, and auditors tend to hit their salary peak in their 40s but see their earnings decline as they move into their 50s.

• Other roles, however, such as senior legal positions and aviation training, continue to see steady growth with age and experience.

What’s Included in the Salary Figures

The gross salaries reported in the survey include:

• Basic pay

• Overtime pay

• Commissions

• Allowances

However, they do not include certain benefits such as:

• Employers’ CPF (Central Provident Fund) contributions

• Bonuses

• Stock options

• Other lump-sum or performance payments

This means that actual take-home compensation for some top roles, especially in finance and law, could be much higher than the figures reported in the survey.

Why Flying Instructors Earn So Much

The consistently high salaries for flying instructors reflect the critical nature of their work. They are responsible for training future commercial pilots, ensuring flight safety, and maintaining strict aviation standards.

Becoming a flying instructor requires years of experience, thousands of flight hours, and certification from aviation authorities. As global air travel continues to grow, experienced instructors remain in high demand, keeping their salaries well above those of most other professions in the country.

Singapore’s Income Divide: A Growing Concern

While the top-paying jobs reflect the value of specialized skills, the significant gap between high earners and low earners also points to income inequality in Singapore. Workers such as bus attendants and laundry staff often take on physically demanding jobs but earn less than one-tenth of what top aviation instructors make.

Economists suggest that this divide highlights the need for better support for low-income workers, including upskilling opportunities, wage supplements, and fairer employment practices.

The Occupational Wage Survey gives a clear snapshot of Singapore’s private sector salaries. While flying instructors, foreign exchange brokers, and legal counsel dominate the top of the chart, workers in essential support roles remain at the bottom.