How to negotiate your salary using real data

Most people negotiate salary with almost no information. They either accept the first number or name a figure they're not sure about. Data changes that. It gives you a reasonable range to anchor on, and makes the conversation about the market instead of about what you want.

Step 1: Find the range for your role

Use a source based on a real survey rather than job ads or hearsay. In Singapore, the Ministry of Manpower's Occupational Wage Survey gives the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile monthly pay for hundreds of occupations. Our salary guide presents them role by role.

Step 2: Understand what the numbers mean

• The median is the middle: half of people in the role earn less, and half earn more.
• The 25th and 75th percentiles mark the range that most people fall into.
• Survey figures cover all workers in an occupation, across companies and experience levels.
• Gross wage includes more than the basic wage, such as allowances, as defined by the survey.

Step 3: Place yourself honestly

Where do you sit in the range? Think about your years of experience, the scope of your responsibilities, your results, and any scarce skills. Someone new to a role will usually sit lower than someone who leads projects. Being honest here makes your ask more credible.

Step 4: Consider the whole package

• Base salary, and any guaranteed bonus or variable pay.
• Leave, working arrangements, and benefits.
• Training budget, and a clear path to promotion or review.
• Employer CPF contributions, which sit on top of gross wages.

Step 5: Word the ask

Be calm, specific, and friendly. For example: "Based on the scope of the role and what I'd bring, and looking at the range for similar roles, I was hoping for a salary in the range of X to Y. Is there flexibility?" Then stop talking and let them respond.

Give a range where the bottom is a number you would be happy to accept. Explain what you bring in terms of results, and connect it to the role's needs.

What data can't do

Wage surveys tell you about typical pay. They can't tell you the employer's budget, or how much they want you. Treat the data as a reference point, not a script, and be ready to talk about your own value. Community-reported salaries, including those on our site, are self-reported and unverified.