Content moderation is a crucial job in today’s digital landscape. With so much user-generated content being posted online every day, content moderators help ensure that harmful, illegal, or inappropriate content is removed from platforms like social media sites, forums, and commenting sections. But how much do the people doing this important work actually make?
What is a content moderator?
A content moderator is someone who reviews user-generated content on the internet and decides what is allowed to remain online and what should be removed. Their main responsibilities include:
- Reviewing posts, images, videos, and other content on social media, blogs, forums, and other platforms
- Deleting or blocking content that violates platform guidelines or local laws around offensive, abusive, dangerous, or illegal material
- Ensuring compliance with regulations related to privacy, copyright, harassment, threats, pornography, etc.
- Identifying trends in rules violations that may require policy updates
- Providing feedback to improve moderation processes and accuracy
It can be a demanding job requiring concentration over long hours to process high volumes of content quickly. Moderators must also be able to handle graphic, objectionable material while remaining impartial and level-headed in their decisions.
What qualifications and skills do content moderators need?
There are no formal education requirements to become a content moderator, but certain skills and abilities are essential:
- Language fluency – Moderators must have excellent written and verbal skills in languages like English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil to properly analyze content.
- Cultural awareness – Understanding social/cultural norms and nuances helps identify potentially offensive or dangerous material.
- Accuracy – Meticulous attention to detail is vital for enforcing complex or frequently changing rules.
- Decisiveness – Moderators need to make quick judgment calls on boundary-pushing content.
- Emotional stamina – Exposure to traumatizing content requires maturity and resilience.
- Tech savvy – Familiarity with social media platforms and moderation tools allows efficient review.
Moderators are carefully screened for their ability to remain impartial when applying standards, follow procedures exactly, and complete a high workload. Ongoing training is provided as policies and products evolve.
Who employs content moderators in Singapore?
There are a few key companies in Singapore’s content moderation industry:
- Social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube all employ in-house moderators to police content on their own sites and apps.
- Forums and gaming platforms – Regional sites like HardwareZone, VRZone, and GameAxis hire moderators to cover Singaporean content.
- Outsourcing firms – Accenture, Cognizant, and TaskUs run moderation teams on behalf of technology clients.
- Government entities – Some government agencies like IMDA have dedicated moderation teams for regulating local telecoms and media.
According to reports, major tech firms like Facebook and TikTok have hundreds of content reviewers just in Singapore combing through primarily English and Chinese language posts. Outsourcing companies tend to hire local Singaporeans while social media platforms recruit expat English teachers too.
What is the work environment like?
Most content moderation jobs in Singapore involve office-based work and typical daytime hours. Moderators usually review content on computers in secure facilities provided by their employers. The work is largely solitary requiring immense focus.
However, the job’s nature can make the work environment psychologically taxing. Moderators are exposed to large volumes of often disturbing content like hate speech, violence, pornography, and harassment. Rigid productivity targets can also place pressure on reviewers. Firms try to support moderators with counseling services, mindfulness training, and relaxation spaces in recognition of these challenges.
How much do entry-level content moderators make in Singapore?
Entry-level moderator salaries in Singapore tend to range from S$25,000-35,000 annually. This reflects pay of about S$1,600-2,300 per month based on a 40-hour work week.
Junior moderators straight out of school usually make between S$2,000-2,500 monthly. Those with a few years of experience or specialized language abilities can earn S$2,500-3,500. Team leaders and quality assurance moderators draw S$3,000-4,000.
Bonuses are sometimes offered but rarely exceed one month’s salary. Benefits like insurance and leave also apply. Income largely depends on employer, proficiency, and seniority. Multinational tech firms and outsourcing companies pay better than local startups and agencies.
Entry-Level Content Moderator Average Monthly Salary in Singapore
| Experience Level | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Junior Moderator (0-2 years) | S$2,000-2,500 |
| Moderator (2-5 years) | S$2,500-3,500 |
| Senior Moderator (>5 years) | S$3,000-4,000 |
How much do mid-senior level content moderators make in Singapore?
Mid-senior level moderators in Singapore with over 5 years experience earn around S$3,500-5,000 per month. Their greater expertise commands higher pay from employers.
Those in supervisor or training roles usually make S$4,000-5,500 monthly. Lead moderators managing teams and processes can draw S$5,000-7,000. High-level QC auditor roles receive S$6,000-8,000.
Bonus pay is more common at this career stage and can add a few thousand a year. Benefits also improve with seniority. Salaries peak around S$8,000-10,000 for heads of moderation divisions and geographical leads.
Mid-Senior Level Content Moderator Average Monthly Salary in Singapore
| Experience Level | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Senior Moderator (5-7 years) | S$3,500-5,000 |
| Team Lead (7-10 years) | S$5,000-7,000 |
| Head of Division (>10 years) | S$8,000-10,000 |
What factors affect content moderator pay in Singapore?
There are several key factors influencing how much content moderators earn in Singapore:
- Company size – Large tech firms pay more than smaller local companies.
- Role seniority – Team leaders earn double entry-level moderators.
- Language proficiency – Fluency in multiple languages commands higher pay.
- In-demand skills – Specializations like automation bring higher salaries.
- Experience – Seasoned moderators earn far more than juniors.
- Education background – Degrees boost pay despite not being required.
- Psychological testing – Strong mental resiliency results in greater pay.
A junior moderator with minimal languages may make just S$2,000. A seasoned multilingual team lead at a top tech firm could make S$8,000. Experience, skills, seniority and employer brand power pay the most.
What are the pros and cons of being a content moderator in Singapore?
The main pros of content moderation work in Singapore are:
- Stable in-demand job with rising internet usage
- No formal education requirements and extensive training provided
- Youth-oriented tech work environment at major companies
- Opportunities to advance into team leadership and quality assurance roles
- Foundational experience for related fields like cybersecurity and data science
But some notable downsides are:
- Exposure to traumatic violent, disturbing content
- Repetitive high-focus work with tiring cognitive load
- Pressures to meet high hourly targets
- Emotionally draining from constant offensive material
- Hard to switch off from work and may affect mental health
Overall, moderation provides stable tech roles but requires resilience against downsides of the job. Strong policies and support structures are essential.
What is the future outlook for content moderators in Singapore?
The future outlook for content moderators in Singapore remains strong due to rising online populations and expanding regulation. Moderation teams across social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok are unlikely to shrink despite automation efforts. Outsourcing companies also anticipate steady demand from clients requiring Singaporean moderators adept in languages like English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil.
However, automation using AI will allow individual moderators to process more content. This means smaller headcount growth. Advances in augmented reality and virtual reality may also help create safer environments for moderators to work in. Overall the profession will remain stable and essential, but teams are likely to only expand modestly. Pay growth will depend on profitability pressures at parent tech companies.
Conclusion
Content moderation is set to endure as a vital function across social media, gaming, and tech companies operating in Singapore. While the work itself can be mentally demanding, the job provides a decent living ranging from S$2,000 for entry level moderators up to S$10,000 for experienced leaders. With strong linguistic skills, individuals have opportunities to advance in the field. But the inherent nature of the job also requires strong wellness support for employees from employers. As Singapore’s digital economy grows, content moderation will continue to offer stable technology careers that favor the resilient, focused and quick-thinking.