Employment Pass Minimum Salary 2026: Current Benchmarks and 2027 Increases

Quick Answer The Employment Pass minimum qualifying salary in Singapore for 2026 is S$5,600 per month for candidates aged 23 or below in most sectors and S$6,200 in financial services, increasing progressively with age. From 1 January 2027, the minimums will rise to S$6,000 and S$6,600, respectively, for new applications. The higher thresholds will apply to renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028.

What is the Employment Pass Minimum Salary in 2026?

The Employment Pass qualifying salary is the minimum fixed monthly salary a candidate must earn to meet the first stage of Singapore’s Employment Pass eligibility framework.

For new applications submitted before 1 January 2027 and renewals of passes expiring before 1 January 2028, the current thresholds are:

The Employment Pass salary requirement is based on fixed monthly salary, which comprises basic monthly salary and fixed monthly allowances. Variable allowances, bonuses, commissions, overtime payments and reimbursements are excluded.

How Do Age and Sector Affect the Employment Pass SalaryRequirement?

The Employment Pass qualifying salary increases progressively with age. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) benchmarks the qualifying salary against the top one-third of local professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) salaries by age. The financial services sector has a separate, higher salary scale.

The tables below show ages from 23 or below to 45 and above, for 2026 and from 1 January 2027.

All Sectors Except Financial Services

Financial Services Sector

What Will the Employment Pass Minimum Salary Be in 2027?

From 1 January 2027, Singapore will raise the Employment Pass qualifying salary to reflect MOM’s regular review of local PMET salaries. The increase affects both the starting salary and the age-based thresholds.

For new applications submitted from that date, the requirements will be:

• All sectors except financial services: S$6,000 per month for candidates aged 23 or below, increasing to S$11,500 for candidates aged 45 and above.
• Financial services: S$6,600 per month for candidates aged 23 or below, increasing to S$12,700 for candidates aged 45 and above.

The revised Employment Pass salary requirement means employers should assess the salary against the rules that apply on the intended application date. A candidate who meets the 2026 threshold may need a higher fixed monthly salary for an application submitted in 2027.

When Will the 2027 Salary Increase Apply to Employment Pass Renewals?

The revised salary thresholds apply to Employment Pass renewals later than they apply to new applications: they take effect for passes expiring from 1 January 2028.

For example, an Employment Pass expiring in 2027 falls under the existing renewal salary schedule, while a pass expiring on or after 1 January 2028 falls under the revised schedule. 

MOM allows renewal applications up to 6 months before the pass expires, but the expiry date is what decides which schedule applies. Employers should check the pass expiry date and the applicable threshold when planning renewals.

Employment Pass Minimum Salary vs COMPASS C1 Salary: What is the Difference?

The Employment Pass qualifying salary and the COMPASS C1 salary benchmark serve different purposes. The qualifying salary is the minimum threshold for eligibility, while C1 assesses how a candidate’s fixed monthly salary compares with local PMET salaries in the relevant sector and age group.

Stage 1: Meet the Employment Pass Qualifying Salary

Candidates who do not meet this threshold are not eligible for an Employment Pass, regardless of the points they might score under COMPASS.

Stage 2: Pass COMPASS, Unless Exempt

Most Employment Pass applications must score at least 40 points under COMPASS. The framework assesses salary, qualifications and other candidate and employer attributes.

Under C1, the candidate’s fixed monthly salary earns points according to its position in the relevant salary distribution:

MOM updates the COMPASS C1 salary benchmarks once a year. The August 2026 benchmarks apply to new applications from 1 January 2027 and to renewals of passes expiring from 1 July 2027, so the C1 dates differ from the qualifying salary dates above. The benchmark depends on the candidate’s age and sector.

Candidates earning at least S$22,500 in fixed monthly salary are exempt from COMPASS. Other exemptions include certain overseas intra-corporate transferees and candidates filling a role for one month or less. Exempt candidates must still meet the Employment Pass qualifying salary.

Planning for the 2027 Employment Pass Salary Changes?

Understanding the Employment Pass salary thresholds, age-based benchmarks, and COMPASS criteria can help you assess eligibility before submitting an Employment Pass application. Employers can also use MOM’s Self-Assessment Tool to check a candidate’s eligibility, noting that the result does not guarantee approval.

At Xignam, we provide Employment Pass application support, from eligibility assessment to document preparation and submission. Explore our immigration services to see how we can assist with your application.

Contact Xignam today to discuss your Employment Pass eligibility and next steps.

Frequently Asked Questions About Employment Pass Salary Requirements

Sources

• Ministry of Manpower (MOM) – Eligibility for Employment Pass
• Ministry of Manpower (MOM) – Foreign Workforce Policy Announcements at COS 2026
• Ministry of Manpower (MOM) – What Is a Fixed Monthly Salary?
• Ministry of Manpower (MOM) – Renew an Employment Pass
• Ministry of Manpower (MOM) – COMPASS C1 Salary Benchmarks
• Ministry of Manpower (MOM) – Self-Assessment Tool for Employment Pass and S Pass
• Ministry of Manpower (MOM) – Consider All Candidates Fairly Before You Apply for an Employment Pass