Andrew Lynch
The Singapore education system is considered to be one of the very best in the world. Due to the fact it is mostly taught in English, it offers a lot of opportunities for UK teachers who are looking to expand their horizons and explore new challenges in their careers. The teacher salary for Singapore varies due to subject, level, and experience, ultimately, it can be one of the many pros of teaching in Singapore but it all depends on your own expectations. Below is a Singapore teacher salary guide that will give you an indication of what to expect in terms of pay, along with tax, insurance and banking considerations.
Use the following links below to see the various topics you need to know about when teaching in Singapore:
The average salary for a teacher in Singapore is approximately £33,530.
While traveling to a new country to teach offers a number of new and exciting challenges, you will want to make sure you receive a good salary. Along with the sort of Singapore teacher salary you can expect to receive, here is a comparison of wages available in primary schools in other regions around the world.
The following salaries are approximations from various data sources to estimate fair averages of mid-level teachers. If you are an entry level teacher in Singapore, your salary may be less, but this will be up to the school’s discretion.
| Salary | |
|---|---|
| Singapore | S$58,000/ £32,960 |
| Abu Dhabi | 137,000 AED/ £30,200 |
| Dubai | 98,000 AED/ £21,600 |
| China | 221,000 Yuan/ £25,300 |
| Qatar | 108,000 QR/£24,000 |
| UK | £26,000 |
Meanwhile, wages available in the same regions for secondary schools are below:
| Salary | |
|---|---|
| Singapore | S$58,000/ £32,960 |
| Abu Dhabi | 137,000 AED/ £30,200 |
| Dubai | 98,000 AED/ £21,600 |
| China | 221,000 Yuan/ £25,300 |
| Qatar | 108,000 QR/£24,000 |
| UK | £26,000 |
Please note, both the teacher salary in Singapore figure and those from other countries, are only approximations to give you an indication of the level to expect. The amount offered by each job will vary depending on the school, subject taught, job role and experience of the applicant, do not hesitate to enquire in detail with your potential employer and/or recruitment partner.
When reviewing the cost of living, also take into account the accommodation allowance that is also likely to be included in your teacher salary. Some international schools in the country may even offer accommodation on campus. If this is part of the package being offered, be sure to find out the amount on offer so you can do your calculations to see if it is worth pursuing. You can see each job's benefits and what the school offers by browsing our Singapore teaching jobs.
The tax rate for teachers in Singapore is lower than average at around 10%, different to the 15% average for foreign tax residents. You are however responsible for your own finances, meaning you must put aside this money each month to be paid at the end of the tax year. There are a lot of factors that can affect your tax rate so this would be something we advise researching in full prior to accepting a job.
Anyone working in Singapore is considered a tax resident if they meet one of the following criteria:
The tax year in Singapore runs from January 1 through to December 31. If you have lived in the country for less than 183 days you are not viewed as a resident. If you are only teaching for a period between 61 to 183 days, your teacher salary in Singapore will be taxed at a higher level than the standard 15% resident tax rate. The rate will depend on the length of time you have spent on the island and the amount of income you have received.
There are some exemptions and exclusions available for temporary absences from the country, which can be requested before completing an expat tax return form.
The public healthcare system in Singapore is widely regarded as being in very good condition. Similarly, the private medical sector in the country is also viewed as offering fast response times and wide-ranging support.
If your Singapore teacher salary package does not already include insurance you may want to go private instead of relying on public services. Or, if you want to expand your coverage, you may want to look into additional options.
As standard, all permanent Singaporean citizens are automatically enrolled in Medishield Life. This is a basic health insurance scheme that will provide coverage for basic hospital bills and a selection of more costly treatments.
Depending on how long you are teaching in Singapore, you may not be classed as a permanent resident. If not, you may be looking for private medical coverage.
A recent white paper reviewed the cost of 100 premium health insurance packages in 100 locations, which you can view here. Of course, there are a number of different factors to take into account, such as your current health, age, coverage benefits chosen, individual insurer rates etc. But this will give you a good indication of the providers available and the sort of cost you can expect to pay, which will help you plan your budget.
Naturally, you will need a reliable bank to deposit and withdraw your teacher's salary in Singapore. When looking for a bank to use, be sure to check:
It is also worth noting that in the majority of cases, the school you are working for will set up a bank account on your behalf. Of course, you are free to change to a new bank any time you wish, but you may just find it easier to stick with the original bank they provide. It will depend on whether or not you wish to make use of any other features that are available with a bank in the country, and whether or not you want to secure better interest rates for saving etc.
There are a good number of banks used by expats in Singapore. The most popular include:
Below are some average Singapore teacher salary rates you are likely to receive by subject. This will vary depending on the school, job role, experience and other factors, but it will give you an indication of what to expect pay wise. This will vary school by school, but typically Science teachers will receive the most according to various surveys and job listing analyses.
| Salary | |
|---|---|
| Maths | S$63,066/approx. £35,800 |
| English | S$71,880/ £40,800 |
| Science | S$83,880/ £47,600 |
| I.T. | S$63,000/ £35,700 |
