Haidilao Plaza Singapura trainee store manager claims S$10,000 monthly salary
A recent video has stirred up quite the conversation, with a Haidilao manager from the Plaza Singapura outlet claiming to earn a hefty S$10,000 salary every month.
Watch on TikTok
The video, posted by content creator Xavier Chen, featured an interview with Ronghui, a trainee store manager.
Source: xavierczh on Instagram
Ronghui, originally from Fujian, China, moved to Singapore 20 years ago and became a citizen.
When asked about his salary, he confidently claimed that his monthly pay was around S$10,000.
In between hotpot bites, Ronghui explained that his impressive salary comes from nearly six years of dedication at Haidilao, leading to his promotion to his current managerial role.
Source: xavierczh on Instagram
A day in the life of a highly paid Haidilao manager
Describing his daily routine, Ronghui shared that his responsibilities include overseeing both the employees and the customers.
This includes greeting his customers with a smile and ensuring they are seated comfortably.
Source: xavierczh on Instagram
But not everything has been smooth sailing.
Ronghui recalled one particularly difficult task when a customer requested that he remove all the seeds from a dragon fruit — a fruit packed with hundreds of tiny edible seeds.
“I tried my best to do it,” he laughed.
Despite the challenges, Ronghui also fondly reminisced about the heartwarming moments when customers surprised him with a cake on his birthday after learning about it from other staff members.
Commenters divided on authenticity of claim
The bold claim of a S$10,000 monthly salary has left many netizens stunned.
Source: Instagram
Some were quick to express doubt, pointing out that management trainees typically earn around S$3,000 a month.
Translation: Managers-in-training can’t possibly make that much. You’re ‘impressive’ if you manage to claim a S$2,000 to S$3,000 salary as S$10,000.
Source: Instagram
This scepticism appears to be based on Glassdoor’s estimate, which puts the upper end of a management trainee’s base pay at S$36,000 annually, or roughly S$3,000 a month.
Source: Glassdoor
However, others defended Ronghui’s claim, arguing that S$10,000 seemed reasonable given his significant experience.
They also suggested that a higher salary could be expected, considering the restaurant’s revenue and the alleged generosity of the boss.
Source: TikTok
A Haidilao spokesperson told MS News that the salary was an “exception” and influenced by a combination of factors such as “store location, specialised role, and extensive working hours”.
She clarified that the manager’s case should not be seen as representative of the average income.
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Featured image adapted from @xavierczh on Instagram.
