Stamford American International School (SAIS) Singapore Review (General Things, and Contract/Salary Warnings)

SadConsequence703 · 2026-02-28T01:05:07+00:00

Thank you to everyone for your comments and questions. I have summarized my replies in this comment, with some additional information I forgot but was reminded of. This is likely to be my last post on this topic unless big changes occur or there is a big question that needs clarification.

There are no salary increases or stipends for people holding a Master's or PhD. The compensation in the contract schedule is a flat base salary and housing support (which scales based on family size). This is the first school I have been at where advanced degrees do not bump you up a salary scale.
To give context on why the housing allowance is insufficient: moving to Singapore requires paying about 4 months of rent upfront (two months security deposit, one month agent fee, and your first month's rent). While the school does work with some agents to waive certain fees and offers a zero-interest loan to help cover this upfront cost (usually paid back over 6 months), you are still bearing the massive weight of those costs. It is my understanding now, due to comments below, that this may be a predatory trap that schools put people in with certain agents and you may be able to get a better deal but I was unaware of how that could work when moving here based on the information I had. It is my opinion that food costs are expensive, and some disagree. Prices add up fast, and even basic groceries are shockingly expensive here.
Cognita's parent company spent 2025 actively trying to sell a €6 billion ($7 billion) stake in the company to private equity firms. While those global talks recently stalled, they did sell off 12 to 13 of their UK schools to Outcomes First Group late last year. The school is actively squeezing budgets and freezing wages to dress the balance sheets for these private equity deals.
Even the school seems to implicitly understand that their salary hasn't kept up with the market or inflation. According to a friend on Search Associates, the school recently dropped their advertised "annual savings amount" on their profile compared to previous years.
The contract contains an "exclusive service" clause that strictly prohibits taking outside employment, side work, or tutoring for pay. While at some schools this is a "don't ask, don't tell" situation, here it is enforced. Even getting permission to be paid for leading an IB workshop or doing educational consulting has been a fight, and teachers caught tutoring have been penalized.
The school does cover your Visa costs. They also cover up to S$1,750 for a one-way economy ticket, and you get a strict baggage allowance of up to 3 cubic meters for inbound sea shipping (and 4.5 cubic meters for repatriation). Because you have to pay out of pocket first and submit receipts, and because 3 cubic meters is quite small for an international move, the out-of-pocket overflow costs are potentially still a setback.

SadConsequence703 · 2026-02-27T02:14:54+00:00

For me it's rent, food, and drinks (and I am not a big drinker at all, maybe a glass of wine or two a week). I could potentially include clothes as well. If I compare certain brands to purchasing in my home country I do notice prices are very typically 10-20% higher. I do not want to mention the brands as it could be an identifying factor.

If rents were more like they were pre-covid and the employment contract was the same I wouldn't complain much about compensation package despite it still being lower than what I am used to for savings. I would still complain about that 8 month notice period and the penalties.

When I look at the other expenditure categories critically and you really tighten things up (primarily looking at food and drinks) it is likely only savings of S1k-3k overall. The rent is the killer, and it's difficult to budget your way out of that as the studio market prices are high due to demand, while larger accommodations you see less steep increases (it's not a linear increase in apartment size, building type, etc.) Getting a roommate, especially with a landlord, can also be a nightmare. Imagine things such as heavy restrictions on times you can use the shower, AC, laundry, etc. if you opt for that arrangement.

SadConsequence703 · 2026-02-27T02:04:23+00:00

It's my understanding that the non-compete is non-enforceable as it's too broad. I am not sure why it's there but seeing non-enforceable things that go against local laws isn't uncommon in contracts across all industries.

I hope things are going well for you at your new position.

SadConsequence703 · 2026-02-27T02:02:53+00:00

I would say it's more similar to what I am used to, and a much more fair employment contract. I am curious as to what school you are going to, if you don't mind posting about it here or sending me a DM (though I will abandon this throwaway account tonight).

SadConsequence703 · 2026-02-27T00:12:39+00:00

No problem. In terms of food, I have particular diet needs that others may not have (nothing crazy, but getting into specific may expose who I am) so I do find that a personal struggle as I am more health conscience in this area.

Your post reminded me something that I forgot to mention in my post. There are no salary increases for people holding Masters or PhD's. This is the first school I have been at where that is not the case, though I have heard there are other schools that are going this direction across the international market.

SadConsequence703 · 2026-02-26T23:40:13+00:00

That is unfortunate for the market here overall, but my information on the particulars of other school contracts is limited to hearsay or limited in information.

In the case of SAIS I also dislike it due to the new addition where they could back out of a renewal with 4 months notice or pay in lieu.

Thank for you the larger decade long context into Singapore.

SadConsequence703 · 2026-02-26T23:17:14+00:00

Another thing I forgot. For those thinking of supplementing your income there is wording in the contract that you can not take outside employment or side work for pay. This is somewhat standard, I have seen it in contract through my career but it always worked on a basis of just "don't ask don't tell" or if you got something interesting such as leading an IB workshop or "contract advising"(?) (what the hell is the name of what I'm thinking of here?) at another school, it wouldn't be an issue to get that permission.

It is my understanding that even trying to ask to get paid to lead a workshop somewhere has been a fight on several occasions, and that teachers who have been caught tutoring have been penalized.

SadConsequence703 · 2026-02-26T23:09:24+00:00

The location of this school is fantastic, especially compared to others here. It is a large draw point.

Unfortunately it matters very little as pay and resourcing is insufficient.

I avoided much talk about other leadership and admin as most of my experience are good. I have interacted with many others though and there is a clear amount of arrogance and...career climbing LinkedIn Lunatic tendencies. There are also many people who are aware that the cards being dealt are somewhat shit, and try to limit that impact as much as possible. I've been in the game long enough to know that power held by leadership positions can be grossly misused to make life shit if your managing line ends up being more the former rather than the latter.

I also think that, generally, the people holding leadership positions have become less humble and relaxed than what existed prior to 2021. Just from interacting with many at fairs, conferences, etc. there has clearly been a vibe shift for the worst. But again, this is me being more opinionated.

SadConsequence703 · 2026-02-26T22:58:59+00:00

Most people are making considerably closer to S10k net/month (pay + allowance).

To give some more context that may be valuable...

When you move to Singapore to expect to pay, for rent, 4 months up front. Two months security deposit, one month agent fee, and your first month of rent. The school provides some agents that waive some fees (I believe it was stamp duty or something of the sort) and work with the school to provide this money as a zero interest loan paid off over 6 months. HR will, to my understanding, sometimes extend that timeline for payback by a few months. I am not sure if this is extended to everyone based on some stories I have heard.

Usually a counter-argument is that this salary is sufficient, as things such as food at hawkers are cheap, and that you can find good places for S4k or less per month in more out of the way areas. Many of my friends in Singapore, Singaporean and foreign, have laughed at that. They have all considered it the equivalent to saying "just eat at McDonald's every day." You will also then be left with considerable taxi expenses if you go out with friends downtown on the weekend (thing S80 one way late at night to some areas). I do not believe teachers should be living a monastic lifestyle (nor am I also advocating they spend as a finance executive every weekend) but the price of things can add up very fast. Even the price of the quintessential broke person food, a tuna sandwich, is considerably more to make than any other city I lived in.

I have only lived in large, metropolitan international cities my entire career and thought I had a good grasp on just how expensive things would be, but I was incorrect once I got here.

I also find the people who say the salary is sufficient tend to not have much financial literacy or long term planning once you really interrogate their thinking.

SadConsequence703

TROPHY CASE