The Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) Occupational Wage Survey 2024 has revealed that flying instructors are the highest-paid professionals in Singapore, earning a median gross monthly salary of $20,000. Foreign exchange brokers follow closely with $19,750, while in-house legal counsels rank third at $17,972.
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Flying instructors earn a median salary of $20,000, with significant variation depending on role and experience.
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Foreign exchange brokers and in-house legal counsels also rank among the top-paid roles, with salaries nearing $18,000-$20,000.
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The lowest earners include bus attendants, labourers in civil engineering and construction, and laundry workers, who earn between $1,400 and $1,560 monthly.
| Occupation | Median Salary (SGD) | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flying Instructor | $20,000 | $8,050 | $30,000 |
| Foreign Exchange Broker | $19,750 | N/A | N/A |
| In-House Legal Counsel | $17,972 | N/A | N/A |
| Lowest-Paid Roles (Bus attendants, labourers, laundry workers) | $1,400–$1,560 | N/A | N/A |
Table of Contents
Wide Pay Gap Among Flying Instructors
The survey highlights that flying instructors face the widest pay gap among middle-level earners. While some earn just above $8,000, others at the top tier can bring home $30,000 a month. Senior commercial airline pilot instructors with decades of experience usually command the highest pay, while junior or part-time instructors working toward flight hours tend to earn far less.
Company Size as a Factor
MOM’s data shows that company size greatly impacts salaries. Flying instructors in firms with over 200 employees earn nearly $13,000 more than those in smaller companies. This salary divide also applies to professions such as salespeople, management consultants, and company directors. Interestingly, some roles like general practitioners, actuaries, and legal professionals often see higher pay in smaller firms.
Gender Pay Disparities
The survey also points to persistent gender-based pay gaps. Men dominate the top-paying roles, with median salaries ranging from $16,808 to $20,000 across positions like flying instructor, oil and bunker trader, and economist. For women, the highest salaries are in roles such as in-house legal counsel, chief information officers, and airline pilots, with a median range of $12,179 to $17,477.
While male economists, HR consultants, and ICT specialists out-earn their female peers, women in professions like security operations, attractions management, and beauty services often earn more than men. Certain occupations, including auxiliary police officers, masseurs, and executive search consultants, show no gender pay gap at all.
Salaries by Age Group
Earnings vary with age and experience:
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Ages 25–29: Software managers, foreign exchange dealers, and in-house lawyers earn the highest median salaries.
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30s: Top earners include in-house lawyers, trade brokers, and management consultants.
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40s: Flying instructors, oil and bunker traders, and in-house counsels reach the $20,000 mark.
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50s: High-paying jobs include airline pilots, investment advisers, and senior flying instructors.
Some roles, such as investment advisers, ICT sales professionals, and news editors, rise steadily with age, while others like auditors and consultants peak in the 40s before declining in the 50s.
Methodology of the Survey
The Occupational Wage Survey, conducted from July to December 2024, covered 407,800 full-time resident employees from private companies with at least 25 workers. Public sector employees were excluded, meaning salaries of military flight instructors or government legal counsels were not reflected.
The reported salaries include basic pay, allowances, commissions, and overtime, but exclude employers’ CPF contributions, bonuses, and stock options. MOM cautioned against year-on-year comparisons due to sample fluctuations.
National Salary Context
In a separate dataset released earlier in 2025, the median salary for full-time resident employees across all industries stood at $4,860 per month (excluding employers’ CPF contributions). This puts into perspective the significant wage gap between average workers and top earners like flying instructors and brokers.
