Salary.sg just released their latest compilation list of the top 100 best-paying jobs in Singapore.

The list is compiled based on MOM Occupational Wages Survey. I’m not exactly sure of their sources but since it is a government survey, they must be quite official. i.e. from schools, from IRAS, etc.

The Top 10 goes like this:

Specialized surgeon – $30,755

Managing director – $24,472

General surgeon – $17,872

Commodities futures broker – $17,464

General manager – $16,667

Company director – $15,513

Creative director (Advertising) – $13,000

Legal service manager – $12,318

Foreign exchange dealer and broker – $11,095

Operations manager (Finance) – $9,808

Wow. In short if you are not medically trained, running(managing) a company, in the advertising/legal/securities/finance industry, you can continue to dream longer to owning that house at Sixth Avenue that comes with a car park for 10 cars and a swimming pool.

This must be very discouraging for most.

But beside doing more good deeds now and hoping that you would fall into these category in your next lifetime, there are things that you could do to reach the same level as these people. And most of them don’t even require a degree to begin with.

The thing about MOM reliant survey is.. it is official. It is from what people dare to declare to the government for taxation purpose.

Now if we also consider income that are NOT declared, the list might be slightly different. It might include these:

1. Tuition teacher – $20k

Sunday Times just showcased 5 very successful and “most sought-after” tutors, a couple of whom are earning a 5-figure income every single month.

Physics tuition teacher Phang Yu Hon, 41, reportedly makes $20,000 from 90 students. I believe he maintains the website www.physics.com.sg.

Laura Oh, an NTU engineering graduate in her mid-twenties is getting a “substantial 5-figure salary” from 80 students and her tuition business. She is the employer of 10 full-time tutors.

2. Insurance Agent – $20k to $30k

CATS Recruit: Helping people to manage their money wisely is a lucrative profession for Mr Sean Lim, 32, an independent financial consultant who earns between $20k to $30k every month

3. Running Scams Investment Scheme – $40k per month

No matter how obvious it appears to be a scam, there will still be people throwing money at you to earn that 10000% returns over their $10 investment.

And if you throw in a convincing website, you have guaranteed success! Mindful of probe though, depend on the country you are running it from.

4. Bookie – >$30k per week

It used to be lottery. Then football. Horse racing, tennis, marble competition, you name it they have it. Some even moved into online casino services.

5. Loan Shark – $100k per month

Lend $100, collect $1000. How not to make that kind of money

There you have it. So the next time you pass by another fancy landed property, don’t be confined to sulking and whining. Make it happen!