2025 Fresh Graduate Salaries in Singapore: Top Degrees, Jobs & Pay Trends

GeneralMarch 01, 2025 09:00

Editor’s Note: Welcome to our two-part blog series exploring fresh graduate salaries in Singapore for 2025. In Part 1, we delve into new employment data—covering both university and polytechnic graduates—and highlight key salary trends, top-paying degrees, and employment patterns. Part 2 will examine hiring trends, future projections, and strategies for employers and jobseekers to navigate the evolving market. Stay tuned!

Introduction

Fresh graduates in Singapore are earning higher starting pay in 2025 — with median monthly salaries rising to SGD 4,500 for university graduates and SGD 2,900 for polytechnic graduates, even as fewer secure full-time roles.

This article breaks down the latest Graduate Employment Survey (GES) results, highlights the degrees with the highest starting salaries, and shares the top 10 graduate jobs offering above-average pay. Whether you’re a fresh grad planning your career or an employer benchmarking salaries, here’s what you need to know.

1. Overall Employment & Salary Trends

1.1 University Graduates

Full-Time Permanent Employment:
— Dropped from 84.1% (2023) to 79.5% (2024)

Unemployment (actively seeking work):
— Increased from 10.4% (2023) to 12.9% (2024)

Median Gross Monthly Salary:
— Rose from SGD 4,317 (2023) to SGD 4,500 (2024)

Although fewer graduates secured full-time roles, those who did enjoyed higher pay. This signals a competitive but rewarding job market—where top talent can command higher salaries.

1.2 Polytechnic Graduates

Full-Time Permanent Employment:
— 54.6% (2024), down from almost 60% (2023)

Median Gross Monthly Salary:
— Increased from SGD 2,800 (2023) to SGD 2,900 (2024)

With 87.5% of poly graduates overall (including part-time/freelance roles) finding employment within six months of graduation, it remains crucial to note that many opted for further studies or temporary work that can still provide valuable experience and eventual upward salary mobility.

2. Which Degrees Pay the Most?

From the official Ministry of Education (MOE) Graduate Employment Surveys, here are some of the higher-paying bachelor’s degrees from the National University of Singapore (NUS). Figures below reference gross monthly salary (median) for full-time permanent roles unless otherwise indicated. Keep in mind that salary distributions vary (mean vs. median vs. 75th percentile).

Degree	Median Gross Salary (SGD)	75th Percentile (SGD)
Bachelor of Business Administration (NUS)	5,100	8,500
Bachelor of Computing (Computer Science) (NUS)	6,400	7,500
Bachelor of Computing (Information Security) (NUS)	6,110	7,049
Bachelor of Laws (NUS)	7,000	7,000
Bachelor of Computing (Information Systems) (NUS)	6,000	6,955
Bachelor of Science (Data Science & Analytics) (NUS)	5,400	6,600
Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Engineering) (NUS)	5,500	6,666

Tip: These numbers exclude bonuses, employer CPF contributions, and stock options. So, actual total compensation could be significantly higher for top performers.

3. Top 10 Fresh Graduate Jobs By Starting Pay

Based on aggregated insights from the GES data and industry observations, here are 10 roles commonly offering higher-than-average entry salaries in Singapore’s 2025 market:

1. Software Engineer / Developer
2. Data Scientist / Data Analyst
3. Cybersecurity Analyst
4. AI / Machine Learning Engineer
5. Management Consultant
6. Corporate Banking Analyst
7. UX/UI Designer
8. Biomedical Research Associate
9. Digital Marketing Specialist
10. Legal Associate (from recognised law programs)

While these roles have strong earning potential, your actual pay will also depend on individual performance, internship experiences, and employer brand.

4. Why Are Salaries Rising Despite Lower Employment Rates?

Skills Shortages: High-demand fields such as tech and business analytics continue to face talent gaps, driving up salaries for qualified candidates.

Economic Restructuring: Post-pandemic restructuring has led companies to adopt AI and digitalisation, opening up specialised tech roles that command premium pay.

Global Competition: International firms set up regional HQs here, offering globally competitive compensation, which pushes local pay scales higher.

5. Implications for Local & Expat Jobseekers

Local Graduates: Emphasise in-demand skill sets (e.g., coding, AI, digital marketing) and real-world experience (internships, apprenticeships).

Expat Jobseekers: Showcase regional experience, relevant visas (e.g., Employment Pass), and unique skill sets that differentiate you from the local talent pool.

Polytechnic Graduates: With median salaries rising, there are promising career paths—particularly in health sciences, IT, and digital technologies—even if you start with a diploma.

6. Key Takeaways

Employment Rates are lower, but median salaries are higher, emphasising the importance of specialised skills and professional agility.

Tech and business analytics degrees continue to dominate the highest salary brackets.

Polytechnic grads can also leverage upskilling and relevant internship experiences for stronger entry-level offers.

Both local and expat candidates benefit from niche expertise in fast-growing sectors—especially in AI, data science, healthcare, and green energy.

(All data accurate as of 27 February 2025. For more details, please refer to the official surveys and the respective university websites.)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the average fresh graduate salary in Singapore in 2025?

According to the 2024 Graduate Employment Survey, released in early 2025, the median monthly salary for university graduates is SGD 4,500, while polytechnic graduates earn SGD 2,900.

2. Which degree offers the highest starting salary in Singapore?

Law graduates reported median salaries of SGD 7,000, while Computer Science, Information Security, and Data Science graduates also rank among the top earners, with salaries above SGD 6,000.

3. Why are fresh graduate salaries rising despite lower employment rates?

Skills shortages in technology, AI, and business analytics are driving competition for top talent, pushing salaries higher even though overall employment rates have dipped.

4. Do polytechnic graduates earn less than university graduates?

Yes, polytechnic graduates typically start lower, at SGD 2,900, compared to university grads at SGD 4,500. However, many poly graduates pursue further studies or gain work experience that leads to higher pay over time.

5. Which jobs are the best-paying for fresh graduates in Singapore?

High-demand roles such as software engineers, data scientists, AI/ML engineers, corporate banking analysts, and legal associates consistently top the charts for starting pay.

Stay Tuned for Part 2!

In Part 2 of this series, we’ll examine hiring trends and salary projections, provide advice for employers on refining recruitment strategies, and share practical tips for fresh graduates to improve their employability and salary negotiation outcomes.

About Reeracoen Singapore

Reeracoen Singapore is a leading recruitment agency in Singapore and across Asia, connecting the right talent with the right opportunities. Whether you’re a fresh graduate looking for your first big break or an employer seeking top-tier candidates, we’re here to help.

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References & Useful Links

1. Ministry of Education, Singapore: Graduate Employment Survey Data

2. NUS – 2024 GES and Follow-Up GES Data

3. Polytechnic Graduate Employment Survey 2024

4. The Straits Times: “Fewer Fresh Poly Grads Secure Full-Time Jobs in 2024, But Take Home Higher Pay”

5. The Straits Times: “Fewer Uni Graduates in 2024 Found Full-Time Work, But They Had Higher Pay”

6. Maybank & OCBC Economists’ Remarks on the Singapore Economy

7. Ministry of Education, Singapore: Graduate Employment Survey Data

8. National University of Singapore – 2024 GES Highlights

9. Latest Polytechnic Graduate Employment Survey 2024

10. The Straits Times Coverage on Polytechnic GES 2024

11. The Straits Times Coverage on University GES 2024