After a turbulent 2024 marked by layoffs and hiring freezes, the 2025 edition of the NodeFlair Salary Report points to a cautiously optimistic outlook for the tech industry in Asia. Drawing from over 130,000 verified data points, the report highlights hiring momentum and mixed salary developments across various roles and markets in the region.
The findings are grounded in NodeFlair’s proprietary database, comprising user-submitted payslips and offer letters, as well as job postings aggregated from leading job portals.
A minimum threshold of 200 data points ensures reliability for each category, with flags placed on entries lacking sufficient data.
The report also notes that job titles and seniority levels may vary across companies, which could affect categorisation accuracy.
“While 2024 was a year of correction for many tech companies, the rebound in hiring seen in early 2025 suggests renewed confidence in digital transformation and emerging technologies,” the report states.
In Singapore, compensation trends for tech professionals present a mixed picture. Software Engineers, a broad category encompassing frontend, backend and full-stack roles, saw a modest 3.3 per cent increase in 2025. However, this figure masks wide disparities based on seniority.
The report found that salaries for Mobile Engineers dipped slightly by 0.2 per cent, while Blockchain Engineers experienced a healthier 3.9 per cent increase. Data-related roles were generally under pressure: Data Engineers and Data Analysts saw declines of 1.5 per cent and 2.4 per cent, respectively. Data Scientists registered a 1.2 per cent drop.
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Cybersecurity Engineers, once a hot commodity, experienced a 4.6 per cent decrease in compensation. In contrast, Solutions Engineers witnessed a robust 11.3 per cent rise, and Game Engineers saw the largest jump, with salaries climbing 28 per cent overall.
Other notable changes include:
– DevOps Engineers: +0.1 per cent
– Site Reliability Engineers: +1.0 per cent
– Systems Engineers: +4.2 per cent
– Product Managers: +3.5 per cent
– SysOps Engineers: +7.6 per cent
While these figures offer a granular view of salary movements, NodeFlair cautions that broader market sentiment, evolving job expectations, and role definitions continue to influence pay scales. Titles such as “Software Engineer” or “Data Scientist” are often used broadly, further complicating year-on-year comparisons.
Competitive edge in employer branding
NodeFlair also analysed the top-searched companies in Singapore, offering insight into how compensation aligns with perceived desirability.
All of the top 15 firms paid Software Engineers at least 10 per cent more than the market median, with 70 per cent offering 20 per cent more. Notably, so-called “FAANG-ish” companies stood out, offering salaries 35 to 52 per cent above the market median.
The report combines salary data with employer reviews, offering a multifaceted perspective on what drives talent interest. This trend suggests that top firms are continuing to use compensation as a lever to attract and retain talent in a recovering job market.
Regional overview: A patchwork of outcomes
Outside Singapore, salary trends across Asia reveal significant variation. India saw an overall decrease in compensation across many tech roles in 2025, suggesting a cautious hiring climate.
In contrast, Vietnam’s data paints a more uneven picture, with some roles experiencing gains while others registered losses.
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Indonesia also saw widespread reductions in compensation, reflecting broader macroeconomic pressures. Malaysia’s figures were more mixed, with no consistent trend across roles. The Philippines showed a general decline in pay across most tech roles.
“While market recovery is underway in some regions, others are still navigating a challenging economic landscape,” the report notes. “Employers continue to calibrate their compensation strategies to balance cost management with the need to secure in-demand talent.”
Looking Ahead
As hiring rebounds in early 2025, tech professionals and employers alike are navigating a new normal shaped by shifting role expectations, regional competition, and broader economic pressures. While the salary outlook remains uneven, the industry appears to be stabilising after a volatile period.
For tech workers, the data offers both reassurance and a reality check: opportunities are growing, but compensation trends will likely remain dynamic and role-specific.
As the report concludes, “Adaptability remains key—not only for companies but for talent seeking to thrive in an evolving industry landscape.”
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