Singapore real estate pay gains beat US, Europe with 14% jump: report

[SINGAPORE] Real estate professionals in Singapore secured higher average salary increases in 2025, outpacing gains in the US, UK and Europe, according to an industry report.

Among respondents in Singapore, 72 per cent reported a salary increase with an average uplift of 14 per cent, said Macdonald & Company in its Salary, Rewards and Sentiments report released on Wednesday (Jan 14).

This exceeded average raises of 12 per cent in the US and Europe, and 10 per cent in the UK. The global average was 11 per cent.

The survey covered 12,000 professionals globally – including 445 in Singapore – working in consultancies, developers, real estate investment trusts, construction and investment banking.

“The findings point to a market where pay growth is widespread, but where job moves deliver higher rewards compared to staying put,” Macdonald & Company said.

The job-switching premium

While annual reviews were the most common trigger for raises – cited by nearly half of Singapore respondents and 55 per cent globally – they resulted in the smallest average increase, at 7 per cent.

Conversely, promotions accounted for over a quarter of pay rises and generated an average increase of 20 per cent.

The most significant gains came from switching employers. Professionals who changed jobs had an average salary jump of 32 per cent – well above the global switching average of 23.5 per cent.

However, only 14 per cent of Singapore respondents moved roles to capture these gains.

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“It’s clear that those changing roles are capturing the greatest gains,” said Will Buck, Macdonald & Company’s Singapore managing director. “For employers, this highlights the growing cost of replacing talent versus investing in retention and development pathways for existing teams.”

Singapore ranked third globally in median salary

The median salary for Singapore real estate professionals at the start of 2026 was S$158,400, up from S$120,000 in 2024. This placed the Republic third globally, behind the Middle East at US$168,000 and the US at US$150,000.

Within Asia, Singapore salaries surpassed those in Hong Kong, where real estate professionals earned a median of HK$813,500 (S$134,400), up from HK$700,000 at the start of 2025.

Roles in data centres, industrial and logistics, as well as alternative residential assets commanded the highest compensation in the Asia-Pacific. However, average annual bonuses dipped to US$18,000 at the start of this year, down from US$22,000 in early 2025.

Retention drivers

Just 6 per cent of respondents globally and 9 per cent of Singapore respondents cited money as their primary driver for feeling valued. Work recognition and relationships with managers took the top spot, at 26 per cent each at the global level.

Still, dissatisfaction with pay remained a top reason for leaving a job, alongside limited career growth and poor culture alignment.

Nearly a quarter of Singapore respondents said it is very likely they will change jobs in 2026, while another third said it was likely. About 45 per cent said it was unlikely they would move, lower than the global average of 54 per cent.

On office attendance, Singapore professionals averaged 3.2 days in the office per week, higher than the global average of 2.9 days. Less than one-fifth reported having full autonomy over their work location; under a third were required to work in the office every day.

Hiring trends continued to favour soft skills, with 72 per cent of hiring managers prioritising cultural fit. Specialist recruitment consultancies remained the most common route for placement, accounting for four in 10 hires over the past three years.

Macdonald & Company also found high artificial intelligence adoption in the region, with two-thirds of Singapore respondents reporting its use and 84 per cent expecting it to impact their roles within five years. However, just over half expressed confidence in using the technology.