Data & AI Salary and Job Market in Singapore 2026

You want a data or AI role in Singapore, but almost nobody is posting the pay, so you cannot tell what a fair offer looks like. As of 14 October 2026, the JobRise live jobs feed shows 31 open Data & AI jobs in Singapore. That is the whole picture on our board for this slice, and it is thin on the one thing you need most.

This is a snapshot of listings, not a market survey. Counts move daily, and companies post and close roles without warning.

What the listings actually show#

Seventeen of the 31 open roles went up in the last 30 days, and 10 landed in the last 7 days. So roles are moving, even if the total is small. By type, 29 are full-time and 2 are contract.

Zero of the 31 listings carry a salary figure. Not one. That is normal for Singapore data and AI roles, and it is exactly why you need to walk in with your own number.

Who is hiring#

Fuku has 12 open listings, by far the most in this slice, and its roles lean technical: "Low Latency Market Data Engineer" and "Machine Learning Quantitative Researcher - Crypto Derivatives". Xora Innovation has 3. Bosch Group and Delivery Hero have 2 each.

Then it thins out. Rolling Arrays - Consulting, Assurity Trusted Solutions, Public Service Division (PSD), Maker Lab, VDL Enabling Technologies Group (Singapore), and TMGM have 1 listing each. Some of these names are recruiters or staffing firms, so the end employer may be different from the name on the posting.

The spread of work is wide: "Oracle Data Migration - Consultant" at Rolling Arrays - Consulting, "AI Risk & Governance Manager" at Assurity Trusted Solutions, "Research Scientist" at Bosch Group, "Manager/Senior Executive, AI & Innovation, Public Sector Transformation, PSD" at Public Service Division (PSD), "AI Lead (Insights)" at Maker Lab, and "Product Data Control (PDC) Engineer" at VDL Enabling Technologies Group (Singapore). Governance, migration, research, and platform work all sit in the same bucket.

Where this sits in the wider market#

For context, the JobRise Hiring Report: Singapore shows 760 open listings across all categories, with 386 posted in the last 30 days. Data and AI is 31 of those 760. Small slice, specialised pay.

Typical reported pay ranges by seniority#

No listing here gives a number, so treat what follows as widely reported ranges for full-time roles in Singapore, gathered from what candidates and employers typically quote. They vary by company, industry, and how badly someone wants you. Verify current figures against official sources and live postings before you rely on them.

• Junior analyst or associate data scientist: roughly S$3,500 to S$5,500 per month.
• Data analyst or data scientist, 2 to 4 years in: roughly S$5,000 to S$8,000 per month.
• Senior data scientist or ML engineer: roughly S$8,000 to S$12,000 per month.
• Lead, staff, or principal engineer in data or ML: roughly S$11,000 to S$16,000 per month.
• Head of data, AI lead, or equivalent management: roughly S$15,000 to S$22,000 per month.

Read these as anchors for a conversation, not promises. A crypto or trading shop, which is what Fuku's titles suggest, may sit at the top of the range or above it. A public sector role, like the PSD posting, may sit lower on base pay but carry stability and structured progression.

Local pay norms you should know#

Job ads in Singapore quote basic monthly salary most of the time. Annual packages are often written as "13th month plus AWS", where AWS is the annual wage supplement, usually one month but not guaranteed and not legally mandated. Whether you get it is set by your contract or company policy, so read the offer letter.

Bonus is typically one to three months for good performance in private sector data roles, sometimes zero in a bad year. Variable pay is real, so ask what percentage of people actually hit target.

Equity or share options show up in startups and some tech firms, and rarely in public sector or traditional industrial roles. Ask what the vesting schedule is and what happens to unvested shares if you leave.

Public sector roles, like the PSD listing, follow structured pay scales with annual increments. Those scales are published by the relevant authority, so check the official source for the current figures rather than trusting a friend's numbers from three years ago.

If you are not a Singapore citizen or PR, your Employment Pass or S Pass application has salary requirements set by the Ministry of Manpower, and those thresholds change. Do not take a number from an article. Check the current official MOM source before you sign anything.

How to negotiate an offer#

Do not name a number first if you can help it. When asked for your expectation, turn it around.

Here is a script that works:

"My current package is around S$96,000 per year including variable pay. Based on the scope of this role and what I know of the market, I would be looking at something in the range of S$110,000 to S$125,000 per year as a total package. What range did you have in mind for this position?"

If they push for a single figure, give the midpoint of your range and say it is flexible depending on the whole package. Never lie about your current pay, but you do not have to volunteer it either.

Then negotiate the package, not just the base. A worked example: they offer S$8,500 per month basic with one month AWS and a target bonus of one month. That is roughly S$110,500 per year at target. You counter with S$9,200 per month basic, or keep the base and ask for a signing payment to bridge the gap to your number.

Ask for the full breakdown in writing: basic, AWS, target bonus, variable pay formula, leave, medical, and any equity. Verbal promises are worth nothing at 2am six months later.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of the counteroffer conversation, use our free salary negotiation guide.

What to do this week#

• Browse the 31 open roles and note which companies post more than once.
• Write your current package as a single annual figure, including variable pay.
• Set a walk-away number and a target number before any interview.
• Prepare one sentence naming your expectation, using the script above.
• For any public sector or pass-sponsored role, verify pay rules on the official government source.

FAQ#

Why does no data and AI listing in Singapore show a salary?

Employers here treat pay as a negotiation, and many worry that a posted number caps what they can offer or invites mismatched applicants. That is the market norm, not a red flag on its own. Ask about the range early so nobody wastes time.

Are the ranges above reliable for 2026?

They are indicative only, based on what is commonly reported for full-time roles, and they shift with the market and with your specific skills. Treat them as a starting anchor, not a guarantee. Always check live postings and official sources before making decisions.

What is AWS and do I get it?

AWS stands for annual wage supplement, usually one month of basic salary, paid out later in the year. It is contractual, not a legal entitlement, so it depends entirely on your offer letter. Ask directly whether it is guaranteed or discretionary.

Should I apply to a recruiter posting like Fuku's?

Yes, but ask early who the end client is and what the pay range for that client looks like. Recruiter-posted roles can be well paid, and they can also be vague about the employer until late in the process. Clarify before you invest interview hours.

How do I handle a lowball offer?

Say the number is below your expectations, state the figure you were hoping for, and ask whether there is room to move on base, bonus, or signing payment. If they cannot move at all, decide whether the role's learning, brand, or flexibility makes up the gap. Sometimes it does. Usually it does not.