Data scientists enjoy a unique position when it comes to making passive income. This is simply because they possess analytical, communication, and programming skills that can be used to create various revenue streams.
In Singapore, the need for passive income is particularly pressing due to the city’s high living costs. In 2022, the Economist Intelligence Unit named it one of the costliest cities in the world, along with New York. This puts it in stark contrast to other Southeast Asian cities, where the living costs are lower.
This blog will discuss how to earn a passive data scientist income in Singapore.
Also Read: Top Computer Science Project Ideas for Singapore Tech Students in 2025
Ways to Make Passive Data Scientist Income in Singapore
Building a business using your Data Science skills can be a powerful way to enter the industry and secure a full-time role. These opportunities go beyond just applying your technical abilities; they also allow you to showcase strategic thinking and innovation. Here are some of the most effective approaches you can take
Creating and Selling Online Courses
If you are a budding Data Science Writer, consider creating and selling online courses to get more than your monthly Data Science Engineering salary. The culture of lifelong learning in Singapore is strong, which is evident from the number of online platforms thriving there. You can also collaborate with local institutions such as SkillsFuture, General Assembly Singapore, and NTUC LearningHub.
Developing and Selling Data Templates or Tools
You can develop and sell data science tools, templates, and scripts that can be useful for others. The most prominent examples of such tools, templates, and scripts are:
- Tableau templates or Excel dashboards
- R Shiny apps
- Python scripts for data cleaning
- SQL query generators
You can sell these resources on your website or platforms like Etsy and Gumroad.
Investing in Real Estate Properties using Data Science
As a data scientist, investing in real estate can offer a lucrative source of passive income. Leveraging your data science skills, you can analyze property data to identify the best investment opportunities. By assessing capitalization rates across different neighborhoods, you can pinpoint properties with the highest potential for profitable rental returns, giving you a strategic edge in maximizing your real estate investments.
Also Read: Data Scientist Demand in Singapore: Top Companies Hiring in 2025
Starting a Data-Centric YouTube Channel or Blog
If you enjoy speaking or writing, you can start a YouTube channel or blog focusing on data science tutorials, trends, tools, and providing career advice. In time, you can monetize your content using Google AdSense, brand sponsorships, and affiliate marketing. You should also focus on topics that have a niche focus, such as the way data science is applied in Singapore. The most prominent examples are Smart Nation initiatives, local case studies, and government data portals.
Starting a Data-as-a-Service Business
Building a data-as-a-service business is the best option for making a healthy passive data scientist income. You will find tons of data on the internet. A great way to make some side income is to provide that data to end users in exchange for a subscription. There are several ways you can run your data-as-a-service business:
- Provide data to end users easily by using an API.
- Take existing datasets, enrich them with more data, and resell them.
Combine datasets into summary analytics that you can display for sale on dashboards.
Also Read: 5 In-Demand Technical Skills in Singapore You Can Pick Up Through Courses
Tips to Get Started on Earning Passive Data Scientist Income in Singapore
The Data Scientist’s average income in Singapore is good and higher than most professions in the country. However, if you consider it insufficient, you may consider some secondary income streams. Before you get started with making passive income, you must know the various ways in which you can begin the process:
| Suggestion | The Best Options to Carry Out the Suggestion |
| Course idea or working on a side project |
| SGInnovate, Meetup, and LinkedIn SG |
| Better tooling and ads |
| PDPA and MAS licensing |
Apart from these, you must manage your time well with your full-time role to do these part-time projects. You must also build trust and an audience in niche markets.
Also Read: Data Science Master’s Vs. Self-Learning In Singapore
Data Science Course Through upGrad: Your Pathway to High-Impact Careers
The Data Science and Analytics courses at upGrad help you harness the true potential of data and elevate your skills in the truest sense of the word. These courses include Generative Artificial Intelligence in the curriculum and provide the opportunity to work on real-world projects and case studies.
Also Read: Best Data Science Certifications for Professionals in Singapore
With these courses, you can be sure that you will reach the next level in your data science career in Singapore:
- Master of Science in Data Science, Liverpool John Moores University
- Post Graduate Diploma in Data Science (E-Learning), upGrad Institute
- Executive Diploma in Data Science and AI, IIIT Bangalore
- Post Graduate Certificate in Data Science & AI (Executive), IIIT Bangalore
For more details on these courses, email query@upgrad.com or call +65-6232-6730.
FAQs on Earn Passive Income as a Data Scientist in Singapore
Q: How can I earn passive income as a data scientist in Singapore?
Ans: The following are the best ways to earn passive income as a data scientist in Singapore:
- Creating and selling online courses
- Developing and selling data templates and tools
- Investing in real estate properties using data science
- Starting a data-centric blog or YouTube channel
- Starting a data-as-a-service business
You can also work as an affiliate for data science platforms or online courses.
Q: How much do data scientists earn in Singapore?
Ans: Glassdoor says data scientists earn between SGD 6000 and SGD 9000 monthly in Singapore.
Q: Can a data scientist earn SGD 100,000 a month in Singapore?
Ans: As a specialised and experienced data scientist in Singapore, you can indeed earn a considerable salary. Still, it is highly unlikely that you will earn SGD 100,000 a month in that role. – WRONG ANSWER
You can earn a considerable salary as a specialised and experienced data scientist in Singapore. Still, it is unlikely that you will earn that much money a month in that role. – RIGHT ANSWER
Q: How much can a data scientist earn from passive income sources?
Ans: Your passive income as a data scientist depends on content creation, investment, and teaching. Some sources suggest you earn between SGD 407 and SGD 7820 from YouTube ad revenues.
Q: What platforms are popular in Singapore for selling data-related digital products?
Ans: The best platforms for selling digital products related to data in Singapore are:
- Shopee
- Lazada
- Amazon
- Shopify
- Carousell
