SINGAPORE: Is S$4,500 really that bad for a fresh grad?
A local university student who will be graduating in 2026 shared on social media that she has already started applying for jobs, and to her surprise, she received a permanent offer paying S$4,500 a month, with an average bonus of one to two months.
However, in a post on the r/askSingapore subreddit, she admitted that she has been having second thoughts about accepting the offer because her friends and parents keep telling her that she “should aim higher.” According to them, someone with her background should at least be looking at a starting salary of S$5,000.
“My peers and parents think the pay is low,” she wrote. “It’s a position in an MNC, doing supply planning and operations. There are some process improvement projects, but most of the day-to-day work involves operations and coordination.”
The student added that she has also been applying to graduate programs on the side, wondering if they might lead to better prospects. “Many grad programs offer rotation opportunities over 2–3 years, but there’s a risk since the company might not have a permanent landing position afterwards. Still, these programs can accelerate your career,” she explained.
Unsure which path to take, she asked other Reddit users for their thoughts.
“S$4.5k is okay. Just take it in this economy.”
In the comments, many Singaporean Redditors urged the student to take the offer, saying that with how tough the job market is, she’s actually quite lucky to have secured one so early.
One user said, “Not to be mean or anything, but the job market is pretty gloomy lately for fresh grads. I have known friends who graduated this year who still have not secured any permanent job role yet.”
“Yes, pay is important, but let’s be honest, it probably gives a good head start. What is more important in the long run is to be employable for years to come.”
Another pointed out, “S$4.5k low? you ask them 0 or S$4.5k, which is better? Some postgrads are jobless for half a year or even more.
A third commenter even did the math, saying, “S$4.5k with 1-2 months bonus? S$4.5×13.5/12 = S$5.06k. You do get over S$5k a month. What’s the complaint?”
A fourth shared, “Bruh, in ops and planning, my starting pay was S$2.4k just last year, though it’s S$2.8k now. S$4.5k is okay. Just take it in this economy.”
Still, not everyone agreed that she should jump at the offer right away. A few users advised her to take a step back and evaluate the offer more carefully.
One wrote that, other than the salary package, she should consider factors such as her degree and skill set, what kind of experience she would gain from the role, her current financial situation, and whether she has any pressing commitments, such as debts or family support obligations.
“If you want, you can compare to the Graduate Employment Survey results,” the user added. “It’s very hard for strangers online to make a judgment call for you. If you feel like it’s too low for your expectations, then keep applying and see what offers you can get. If you can’t get higher, then that tells you something.”
Results from the 2024 Joint Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey show that the median gross salary of new graduates has gone up by 4.2% in 2024, rising from S$4,317 to S$4,500.
Median salaries in the business sector went up the most, increasing from S$4,150 in 2023 to S$4,400 in 2024. Meanwhile, those employed in arts, design, and media had the smallest increase, from S$3,740 in 2023 to S$3,800 in 2024.
Read more: Salary for fresh graduates higher in 2024, but fewer were employed 6 months after finishing uni
