Singapore AI pay jumps 15%-25%, with new grads earning up to S$90,000
Why it matters: Employers are struggling to fill AI roles as OpenAI, Anthropic and Alibaba expand hiring in Singapore.
Artificial intelligence salaries in Singapore have risen about 15% to 25% over the past year, far outpacing the 4.9% increase in nominal wages for full-time workers in 2025, according to recruitment firm Robert Walters and Ministry of Manpower data. Fresh hires for AI jobs typically start at S$70,000 to S$90,000 a year, while some Chinese tech companies are offering packages from S$200,000 a year to lure PhD holders to China. Hiring has stayed strong across AI engineering, machine learning, data science, AI product management and AI governance. OpenAI has committed more than S$300 million to Singapore's applied AI sector, including an Applied AI Lab and training tied to more than 200 technical roles. Anthropic and Alibaba are also building out Singapore-based AI operations.