Hi everyone,
I have heard all the replies to Dimitri the Wanderer and it
seems that most Singaporeans are doubtful that he is earning that
much money a month. As a fellow Singapore working in Bristol
for an Aerospace Manufacturer for almost 3 years, I feel that I
could shed some light on this subject.
According to Dimitri, he claims to have earn quite a lot of
money in a single year. I suspect this consist of his salary
as well as bonuses combined. It's very expensive living in
London so most of the city workers tend to have very high
salaries. Although I am just an engineer working in the UK,
my classmates have all left engineering to work in banks in
london. The starting salary for fresh graduates out of
University in the UK working in London for a bank is about S$150K
to S$180K a year excluding bonuses. I hope this figure gives
you an idea of how things are in the UK.
As an engineer myself, I would just say that it's difficult for
me to return to Singapore to work one day. After working just
3 years since leaving Uni, I am getting a five figure
salary a month and much higher than what a normal
engineer is getting in Singapore. It is no surprise now why
there are no more engineers left in Singapore and I can't see
why a Singaporean studying overseas will want to return to
Singapore to work for less money. Competition is fierce in
the UK for skilled people and the companies in UK are mostly MNC
which compete for international contracts and businesses. So
it really boils down to nature of the business and the market that
you are satisfying.
Danny from Bristol
Wow! 5 figure salary! $150,000. UK! in Financial Mgt.
Would engineering be the same, although you didnt say so,
still 5 figures as you claimed?
But hang on a second! Let's work some figures.
$150,000 less 23% tax would be $115,500 balanced, or
$9,625/mth.
Rental of one bedroom flat( don't even think to buy one!
Beyond most working class
reach!)
= est $5,000
Less Municipal tax ( property tax) = est $ 500
Food ( steaks cost a
bomb) =
est $1,000
Sub
total
= est $6,500
Balance of
salary
= est $3,125/mth
Car, petrol, parking,
electricity =
????
Without car, electricity, entertainment costs, you are already
down to $3,125.
Let's compare a Spore engineer here - $6,000/mth
Tax 8.5% = balance of $65,880 or $5,490/mth
HDB 5 rm flat =$1,000/mth and ( own the flat
for 99years)
Town council = $ 120
Food
=$ 500
Sub
total =$1,620
Balance of salary=$3,870/mth
The Spore engineer may earn lesser, but at the end of day, who
is better off and have more money in the pocket? You claim to
be an engineer, I dont wish to doubt you, but have you work your
figures properly???
And to rub it in, paying taxes and contributing to UK as a PR is
better than contributing to our society, who had offered you the
opportunity since birth to excel?
Greetings, from Singapore.
xtreyier