Salary data
Singapore Internship Salary Guide 2026
How much should you be paid? A complete breakdown of internship allowances across banking, tech, consulting, government, and more — based on real student data.
Singapore Internship Salary Guide 2026
Internship allowances in Singapore vary significantly by industry, company size, and role. This guide breaks down what you can realistically expect to earn — and what to negotiate for.
Why Salary Matters
Unlike many countries where internships are unpaid, Singapore has a strong norm of paying interns. Most reputable companies pay between SGD 800 and SGD 3,000 per month, with outliers on both ends.
Understanding the going rate before you apply helps you:
- Set realistic expectations
- Prioritise applications strategically
- Negotiate confidently if given the chance
Salary by Industry (2026 Data)
Banking & Finance
The highest-paying sector for Singapore interns.
| Role | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Investment Banking | SGD 2,000 – 3,500 |
| Markets / Sales & Trading | SGD 1,800 – 3,000 |
| Risk / Compliance | SGD 1,500 – 2,500 |
| Retail Banking Operations | SGD 900 – 1,500 |
Top payers: Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Citi, DBS (IB division), UBS
Technology
Highly competitive and well-compensated, especially for software roles.
| Role | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Software Engineering | SGD 1,500 – 3,000 |
| Data Science / ML | SGD 1,500 – 2,800 |
| Product Management | SGD 1,200 – 2,500 |
| UX/UI Design | SGD 1,000 – 2,000 |
Top payers: Google, Meta, Sea Group, Grab, Shopee, ByteDance
Consulting
Varies widely by firm tier.
| Firm Tier | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| MBB (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) | SGD 2,000 – 3,500 |
| Big 4 (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) | SGD 1,200 – 2,000 |
| Boutique Consulting | SGD 800 – 1,500 |
Government & Statutory Boards
Stable, structured programmes with decent pay.
| Agency | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| MAS (Monetary Authority) | SGD 1,500 – 2,200 |
| EDB, JTC, A*STAR | SGD 1,200 – 1,800 |
| GovTech | SGD 1,500 – 2,000 |
| Ministries (MOM, MOE, MOH) | SGD 800 – 1,500 |
Healthcare & Biomedical
| Role | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Biomedical Research | SGD 800 – 1,500 |
| Hospital Administration | SGD 700 – 1,200 |
| Pharmaceutical | SGD 1,000 – 1,800 |
Marketing & Media
| Role | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Digital Marketing | SGD 800 – 1,500 |
| Content / PR | SGD 700 – 1,200 |
| Brand Management | SGD 1,000 – 1,800 |
Salary by University (General Trend)
Students from NUS, NTU, and SMU typically command slightly higher offers from top firms, driven by campus recruitment pipelines. However, individual performance and skills matter far more than your institution for smaller firms and startups.
What Affects Your Internship Pay?
1. Company size and type MNCs and large local companies (DBS, OCBC, Singtel) pay more than SMEs. Tech companies and IB divisions consistently top the charts.
2. Role and specialisation Technical roles (software, data, quant) earn more than support roles. Finance-facing roles earn more than marketing or HR.
3. Duration Longer internships (6 months+) often command slightly higher rates as companies invest more in training you.
4. Time of year Summer internships (May–August) at bulge-bracket banks are part of structured programmes — these pay the most and are most competitive.
How to Negotiate Your Allowance
Most internship offers are fixed — especially at large companies with standardised bands. But for smaller firms or extended contracts, negotiation is possible.
Tips:
- Research the market rate before your offer call
- If you have competing offers, it's reasonable to mention them
- Focus the conversation on value, not need
- Ask about transport and meal allowances if the base is low
Red Flags to Watch Out For
- Unpaid internships at established companies (not startups) — this is below market norm
- "Commission-only" arrangements for business development roles
- Vague allowance ranges without a clear offer letter
Summary Table
| Industry | Typical Range (SGD/month) |
|---|---|
| Investment Banking | 2,000 – 3,500 |
| Tech (Software) | 1,500 – 3,000 |
| Consulting (MBB) | 2,000 – 3,500 |
| Government / Stat Boards | 800 – 2,000 |
| Big 4 | 1,200 – 2,000 |
| Marketing | 700 – 1,500 |
| Healthcare | 700 – 1,800 |
Browse current internships on Internship.sg to see live allowance data on real listings.
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