Debated in Parliament on 4 Feb 2026.
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the median starting salary for engineering graduates in 2023 compared to other competitive disciplines; (b) how many engineering graduates entered non-engineering roles within three years of graduation in the past five years; and (c) what measures have been implemented since 2020 to close remuneration and career progression gaps between engineering and other high-demand professions.
Based on the Graduate Employment Survey, the median starting salary for Engineering graduates was $4,400 and $2,800 for autonomous university and polytechnic graduates, respectively, in 2023. This is higher than the median starting salary of $4,295 for autonomous university graduates in general and comparable to the median starting salary of $2,800 for polytechnic graduates in the same year.
The Ministry of Education does not track the number of Engineering graduates who entered non-engineering roles within three years of graduation.
Remuneration and career progression opportunities in any sector reflect the market demand for specific skillsets. The respective sector agencies will continue to work with industry to build up their talent pipelines and address sector-specific manpower needs. Our institutes of higher learning will work with these agencies and industry to ensure that the curriculum remains industry relevant and support the upskilling initiatives.
PAPERCUTS