Hawker
Overview
Hawkers sell food and beverages in hawker centres and food courts.
Description
- Prepare, cook, and serve food to order.
- Manage finances including budgeting, tracking expenses, pricing, and ensuring profit.
- Implement efficient cooking techniques to minimise waste and operating costs.
- Prepare and stock ingredients.
- Establish good relationships with suppliers.
Entry requirements
- No formal education is required. Find a cuisine you want to specialise in and perfect your recipes. Culinary training may also help you understand cooking techniques kitchen management.
Salary
$2,300 – 3,100
/mo
Salary ranges are estimated based on public information found on Singaporean job portals, including MyCareersFuture, MySkillsFuture. Updated as of 2026.
Trivia
The National Environment Agency and SkillsFuture created the Hawker Development Programme to help aspiring hawkers learn essential skills. The same year, Singapore's hawker culture made UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020.
What to expect
If you choose to start a hawker business, business costs will include bidding for a stall, buying ingredients and equipment, and paying for utilities and cleaning.
Soft
skills
Service Orientation
Able to provide excellent customer service.
Resource Management
Able to maximise use of ingredients and equipment to reduce waste.
Decision Making
Ability to make decisions in a fast-paced environment.
Food Safety Knowledge
Possess expert understanding of food handling and hygiene practices.
Cooking Expertise
Skilled in preparing various dishes well and quickly.
Finance Management
Familiar with budgeting, pricing, and managing finances.
Hard
skills
"My personal motto is to be reliable. To be here for my staff, my customers every day without fail."
Faye, Hawker
Our Grandfather Story