Recently surveyed graduates from SIT-DigiPen (Singapore) have reported a median gross starting salary [1] of $3,530 per month, the highest starting salary of any surveyed cohort to date. This is according to results from the latest 2018 Graduate Employment Survey (GES), released by Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) on 17 September 2019, which surveyed recent graduates. This cohort’s reported salary figures are the highest-drawn since SIT-DigiPen (Singapore) first participated in the GES in 2015 and demonstrate a significant increase over last year’s reported median starting salary of $3,200. The survey was conducted between March and May 2019.
| Program | Year of GES | Gross Monthly Median Salary ($) | Overall Employment Rate (%) | Full-Time Permanent Employment Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation (BSCSRTIS) | 2018 | 4,016 | 96.8 | 96.8 |
| 2017 | 3,800 | 96.9 | 90.6 | |
| BS in Computer Science and Game Design (BSCSGD) | 2018 | 3,600 | 94.7 | 89.5 |
| 2017 | 3,250 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |
| BA in Game Design (BAGD) | 2018 | 3,300 | 86.7 | 86.7 |
| 2017 | 3,000 | 96.2 | 92.3 | |
| BFA in Digital Art and Animation (BFA) | 2018 | 2,800 | 91.2 | 52.9 |
| 2017 | 2,875 | 88.5 | 69.2 |
The high salaries obtained by SIT-DigiPen (Singapore) graduates are a reflection of the strong demand for talent in the digital economy. Median gross monthly salaries rose across the board for those from the BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation (BSCSRTIS), BS in Computer Science and Game Design (BSCSGD), and BA in Game Design (BAGD) programs. Graduates from the BSCSRTIS program led the pack with a median gross monthly salary of over $4,000. The median gross monthly salary of BSCSGD graduates and BAGD graduates rose to $3,600 and $3,300, respectively. Remuneration for BFA in Digital Art and Animation (BFA) graduates remained comparable with results released in 2017, with this year’s surveyed cohort reporting a median gross monthly salary of $2,800.
SIT-DigiPen (Singapore) graduates continue to be highly sought after. Overall employment [2] was strong, with 93% of surveyed 2018 graduates in the labor force securing jobs within six months of their graduation. According to a recent report released by recruiting firm Michael Page in March 2019, there was a 20 percent jump in demand for technology jobs in Singapore over the past 12 months. In line with market trends and a rapidly growing digital economy, graduates from our computer science programs reported the highest employment rates among their SIT-DigiPen (Singapore) peers. Full-time permanent employment [3] among BSCSRTIS graduates in the labor force increased to 97% this year, while close to 90% of BSCSGD graduates in the labor force were in full-time permanent employment.
Mr. Tan Chek Ming, Managing Director of SIT-DigiPen (Singapore), said: “SIT-DigiPen (Singapore) continues to maintain its reputation in the fields of computer science, UI/UX design, and digital art. We are encouraged that this latest Graduate Employment Survey affirms that our graduates are still highly sought after and valued in the workforce. We will keep training talent to meet the demands of the digital economy in Singapore.”
[1] Gross monthly salary comprises the basic salary, fixed allowances, over-time pay, commissions, and other regular cash payments, before deductions of the employee’s CPF contributions and personal income tax. Employer’s CPF contributions, bonuses, stock options, other lump sum payments, and payments-in-kind are excluded.
[2] Overall employment refers to the number of graduates working on a full-time permanent, part-time, temporary, or freelance basis, as a proportion of graduates in the labour force (i.e. those who were working or not working but actively looking and available for work).
[3] Full-time permanent employment refers to employment of at least 35 hours a week and where the employment is not temporary. It includes those on contracts of one year or more.