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Minxiao Chang

AI skills are becoming a clear salary advantage for Singapore’s software engineers, with those who have such capabilities earning up to 25 per cent more than their peers, according to a new salary report by NodeFlair.
The Singapore-based tech talent platform said its findings came from more than 230,000 verified data points and showed software engineers with AI expertise commanded a 13 to 25 per cent pay premium across experience levels.
That marks a shift from 2024, when rising demand for AI skills had not yet translated into higher wages.
According to the report, salary growth diverged by seniority, underscoring stronger demand for experienced hires. It found that pay for senior, lead and managerial roles had risen by more than 10 per cent, compared with 5.3 per cent for junior engineers and 1.7 per cent for mid-level positions.

The report also found widening disparities within the workforce, with the top 10 per cent of engineers recording salary increases of up to 19 per cent.
“AI fluency is no longer a nice-to-have – it’s now a salary advantage,” NodeFlair founder Ethan Ang said.
The shift is also reshaping how engineers are evaluated, particularly at senior levels where companies are placing greater emphasis on problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
AI is only as strong as the engineer’s clarity of thought
Joshua Wong, founder of Hypotenuse AI
“AI is only as strong as the engineer’s clarity of thought. If they cannot identify, define and scope problems clearly, AI won’t save them,” said Joshua Wong, founder of Hypotenuse AI.
Companies are increasingly prioritising engineers who can work effectively with AI tools, especially in senior roles where autonomy and architectural decision-making are more critical.
“An engineer’s core value was never just coding – it’s making decisions,” said Ke Wang, co-founder and chief technology officer of travel rewards app HeyMax.
Salary trends also vary across functions such as software engineering, data science and DevOps, reflecting differences in the pace of AI adoption.
Scramble for talent
The findings come as Singapore’s technology sector shows signs of recovery following several years of lay-offs and cautious hiring, with companies increasingly compensating practical AI capabilities rather than experimental use.
A similar surge is being observed in mainland China, underscoring the global scramble for AI talent. According to a spring hiring report released by Zhaopin, demand for AI agent-related roles in March jumped 455 per cent year on year.


Separate data from Chinese professional networking platform Maimai showed that AI-related jobs accounted for 26.23 per cent of all new-economy postings in early 2026, up sharply from 2.29 per cent a year earlier, suggesting the rapid integration of AI into core business operations.
Salaries have risen in tandem with demand. Zhaopin said AI-related roles offer average pay about 65 per cent higher than traditional positions, reflecting an intensifying competition for AI talent.
The data underscores intensifying competition for talent in China, as companies accelerate adoption of generative AI across core business functions.


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Companies are increasingly prioritising engineers who can work effectively with AI tools, especially in senior roles


Companies are increasingly prioritising engineers who can work effectively with AI tools, especially in senior roles.


Singapore software engineers with AI skills earn 25% more: ‘no longer nice-to-have’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Companies are increasingly prioritising engineers who can work effectively with AI tools, especially in senior roles

Companies are increasingly prioritising engineers who can work effectively with AI tools, especially in senior roles