High salary not a good enough factor for licensed plumbers in Singapore
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We all want a job that pays well, has great benefits, and is fulfilling in the long run. MyCareersFuture compiled a list of jobs that offer a high-salary based on the data from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)’s Occupational Wage Survey conducted in 2021. The jobs listed included general practitioners and medical specialists, careers in financial services, engineers, and sales. These jobs are in line with our general image of high-paying jobs. However, did you know that a job as a licensed plumber in Singapore can earn you an average of S$6,000 to S$8,000 a month?
40-year-old Gary Tan, the youngest member of the Singapore Plumbing Society said there were instances where plumbers have earned up to S$12,000 in a month. According to him, licensed plumbers can charge and earn more than twice as much as unlicensed plumbers, and they do less menial work. Instead, their role involves inspections, with more room for promotion.
He started his job as a project engineer and took the course to become a licensed plumber, slowly climbing the career ladder within his company.
Despite the prospects of career growth within his industry, Tan says that the plumbing industry still suffers from a labour shortage, with a high reliance on foreign workers. However, most companies are hesitant on hiring foreign workers due to the high taxation. The main factor holding many back from becoming a licensed PUB-plumber is the process of obtaining the licence. It requires approximately nine months of training, and costs S$1,000 after subsidy for locals, S$4,000 for foreigners.
To date there are 1,070 licensed plumbers in Singapore, of which 1,010 are locals and permanent residents, while the remaining 60 are foreigners. The number of unlicensed plumbers in Singapore are unknown.
Unconventional career choices that pay well
A video posted in July 2022 showcased a job offer as a cleaner, with a salary of S$3,800 a month. The job description stated a six-day work week, eight hours a day, with meals provided.
Another job posting for an administration manager was advertised with a monthly salary of S$3,700. The roles and responsibilities of the position included paperwork, production of sales reports and statistics, as well as customer service. The job offer was also tagged as an internship.
A garbage collection driver who was interviewed on local podcast ‘The Common Folks’ claimed that someone in his profession can earn up to S$5,000 a month, with the salaries potentially going into the double digits.
He mentioned during the interview that the pay was S$5,000 minimum and can increase up to S$10,000.
Despite locals looking down on the profession, the interviewee shared stories of how his supervisor held a Master’s degree, and that most of his colleagues owned their own BMW motorbikes.
Jobs are not without their pros and cons. At the end of the day, it depends on whether the extent of the con will outweigh the amount of salary paid out.
