A Reddit discussion reveals contrasting views on the lucrative pay in finance and computer science sectors in Singapore.
SINGAPORE: In a recent Reddit thread, a user sparked a lively debate asking, “Which industry has the highest pay in Singapore?” The overwhelming consensus points to a competition between finance and computer science (CS), with each field offering attractive salaries but with distinct differences in access and work-life balance.
u/Maleficent-Put7542, who initiated the discussion on r/askSingapore on Monday (Apr 24), expressed some confusion over the preference of many undergraduates to pursue computer science, despite the starting pay in the field being slightly higher than in other industries. “Like on average, I would say finance right? Actually I don’t quite understand why undergrads all chiong to CS, I know the starting pay is slightly higher than other industries, but the big monies are still in finance right?”
Commenters quickly jumped in, pointing out that while finance does offer high pay, the top salaries are often reserved for the elite few. “Top dollars in finance are reserved for the top few of the cohort every year. The average finance fresh grad still makes less than the average CS grad. Also, CS jobs generally have better working hours compared to finance,” noted one commenter.
Others highlighted the significant pay in finance roles, particularly in private banking and investment management. “Citibank private wealth hiring fresh grads at $8k/month. I know a GIC also hiring fresh grads with $10k/month package…. So yeah finance pays well but selectively,” said one user. Summer internships at top investment banks, such as JP Morgan, also offer impressive compensation, with some interns in front office roles earning around $12k.
However, a few pointed out that breaking into the finance sector is no easy feat. “Top finance pay is crazy. Think M&A IB and the likes. But it’s crazy hard to get in, you need to be top 0.1% or you need to have connections. This is where you go if you already have a plan in life,” remarked one user.
Work-life balance also emerged as a key point of differentiation. A commenter with experience in finance, tech, and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) shared that while all three fields offer lucrative pay, the work-life balance in tech tends to be more favorable. “I work in fintech & M&A tech. All parties (finance, M&A, and tech) get paid a good amount. But out of the three, the work-life balance is also pretty different. Finance and M&A people work a lot more than tech. Crazy good pay, but dividing it by the hour … doesn’t amount to a whole lot. You win some, you lose some, I guess.”
