The Employment Pass salary threshold in Singapore is the minimum fixed monthly salary a candidate must earn to qualify for an EP. As of 2026, the figure effective from 1 January 2025 is S$5,600 a month for most sectors and S$6,200 a month for the financial services sector. These are the floors for the youngest applicants; the required salary rises with age, reaching S$10,700 (most sectors) and S$11,800 (financial services) at age 45 and above, per the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Meeting the salary threshold is only the first of two gates. After clearing the qualifying salary, a candidate must also score at least 40 points under the COMPASS points system, where salary appears again as criterion C1. From 1 January 2027, the youngest-applicant floors rise to S$6,000 (most sectors) and S$6,600 (financial services). This guide sets out the full age-graduated table, how the threshold links to COMPASS, how it differs from the S Pass, and what to expect at renewal.
Key Takeaways
- Starting floor (2026): the Employment Pass qualifying salary is S$5,600 a month for most sectors and S$6,200 for financial services, for applicants aged 23 and below, per MOM figures effective from 1 January 2025.
- Rises with age: the threshold climbs steadily, reaching S$10,700 (most sectors) and S$11,800 (financial services) at age 45 and above.
- 2027 increase: from 1 January 2027 the youngest-applicant floors rise to S$6,000 (most sectors) and S$6,600 (financial services), with the age-45 cap at S$11,500 and S$12,700.
- Two gates: meeting the salary threshold is step one; the candidate must then score at least 40 points under COMPASS, where salary is criterion C1.
- Different from S Pass: the S Pass minimum salary is lower, starting at S$3,300 a month from September 2025, with its own age-graduated scale.
What the Employment Pass Salary Threshold Is
The salary threshold, which MOM calls the EP qualifying salary, is the fixed monthly salary a candidate must be paid to be eligible for an Employment Pass. Fixed monthly salary means the basic salary plus fixed monthly allowances, but not bonuses, overtime, or other variable payments. If the offered package falls below the threshold for the candidate's age and sector, the application cannot qualify, regardless of skills or the employer.
MOM sets two scales: one for most sectors and a higher one for financial services. Both start at a floor for the youngest applicants and step up each year of age. The design reflects the expectation that an older hire should command a salary in line with experienced local professionals in the same field.
Why the Threshold Rises With Age
A flat figure would let employers hire an experienced 45-year-old at the same salary as a fresh graduate. The age-graduated scale prevents that. It benchmarks each candidate against local professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) of a similar age, so the EP route stays aligned with comparable local pay rather than undercutting it.
The Age-Graduated Salary Table
The table below shows the EP qualifying salary by age, for both the current period (as of 2026) and from 1 January 2027, drawn from MOM's published figures. The current figures took effect on 1 January 2025. Intermediate ages step up roughly evenly between the floor and the age-45 cap; the rows below mark the floor, key mid-career ages, and the cap.
| Age | Most sectors (current) | Most sectors (from 1 Jan 2027) | Financial services (current) | Financial services (from 1 Jan 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 and below | S$5,600 | S$6,000 | S$6,200 | S$6,600 |
| 25 | S$6,064 | S$6,500 | S$6,709 | S$7,155 |
| 30 | S$7,223 | S$7,750 | S$7,982 | S$8,541 |
| 35 | S$8,382 | S$9,000 | S$9,255 | S$9,927 |
| 40 | S$9,541 | S$10,250 | S$10,527 | S$11,314 |
| 45 and above | S$10,700 | S$11,500 | S$11,800 | S$12,700 |
Figures are fixed monthly salary, as of 2026, per MOM. The youngest-applicant floor applies to anyone aged 23 or below; from age 24 the required salary increases each year until it plateaus at the age-45 figure. A candidate whose offer sits below the row for their exact age does not meet the threshold, even if it clears a younger band.
How to Read the Table for Your Age
Find the candidate's age and sector, then compare the fixed monthly salary in the offer letter against the matching cell. For an age between the rows shown, the requirement falls between the two neighbouring figures, rising by a fixed step each year. A 33-year-old in most sectors, for example, needs roughly S$7,900 a month under the current scale. The full year-by-year table is published by MOM.
How the Salary Threshold Links to COMPASS
Clearing the salary threshold does not, by itself, secure an Employment Pass. Most new applications must also pass COMPASS, the Complementarity Assessment Framework, by scoring at least 40 points. Salary then appears a second time inside COMPASS as criterion C1.
C1 is not the same test as the qualifying salary. The qualifying salary is a pass or fail floor by age and sector. C1, by contrast, awards 0, 10 or 20 points by comparing the candidate's fixed monthly salary against local PMET salaries in the same sector and age band. A salary at or above the 90th percentile scores 20 points; the 65th to below the 90th percentile scores 10; below the 65th scores 0. So a higher salary helps twice: it clears the floor and it earns C1 points toward the 40-point pass mark.
When the Threshold Does Not Apply
Some applications are exempt from COMPASS, though other EP conditions still apply. According to MOM, candidates with a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500, intra-corporate transferees, and roles lasting one month or less skip the points test. The qualifying salary by age still has to be met for a standard EP.
For a full breakdown of the points system, see our guide to the EP COMPASS framework in Singapore.
Employment Pass Versus S Pass Salary
The Employment Pass and the S Pass have separate salary scales. The EP is for higher-earning professionals and managers; the S Pass is a mid-skilled pass with a lower floor and a quota and levy that the EP does not carry.
| Pass | Starting salary (youngest applicants) | Salary at age 45 and above | COMPASS applies? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass (most sectors) | S$5,600 / month | S$10,700 / month | Yes |
| Employment Pass (financial services) | S$6,200 / month | S$11,800 / month | Yes |
| S Pass (most sectors) | S$3,300 / month | S$4,800 / month | No |
| S Pass (financial services) | S$3,800 / month | S$5,650 / month | No |
EP figures are effective from 1 January 2025; S Pass figures are effective from 1 September 2025, both per MOM and current as of 2026. The S Pass also charges a monthly levy and counts against the employer's quota, so the lower salary does not always mean a cheaper hire. If you are weighing the two, our EP vs S Pass in Singapore guide compares them in full, and the minimum salary for a work permit in Singapore covers the lower-tier pass.
What Happens to the Threshold at Renewal
An Employment Pass is not permanent. It is issued for a set term (commonly up to two years for a first pass, up to three on renewal) and must be renewed before it expires. At renewal, MOM applies the salary threshold that is current at that time, against the holder's age at that time, not the figures from when the pass was first granted.
Two things therefore matter at renewal. First, the holder is older, so the age-graduated requirement has moved up. Second, the threshold itself may have risen, as it does from 1 January 2027. A salary that comfortably cleared the floor at first issue can fall short years later if it has not kept pace.
How to Stay on the Right Side of the Threshold
- Check the holder's salary against the current MOM figure for their age and sector well before the pass expires.
- Factor in the 1 January 2027 increase if the renewal falls on or after that date.
- Confirm the renewal also clears COMPASS, as renewals for passes expiring on or after 1 September 2024 are assessed under it.
- Adjust the fixed monthly salary upward if the offer no longer meets the age-adjusted floor.
MOM, not the employer, is the deciding authority on every EP and renewal. The figures here are a guide, not an approval. To map a specific profile against the live thresholds, see our Employment Pass and work visa service, or compare the EP with the Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass for very high earners and top talent.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Employment Pass salary threshold in Singapore
What is the Employment Pass salary threshold in Singapore in 2026?
As of 2026, the EP qualifying salary effective from 1 January 2025 is S$5,600 a month for most sectors and S$6,200 a month for financial services, for applicants aged 23 and below. The required salary rises with age, reaching S$10,700 (most sectors) and S$11,800 (financial services) at age 45 and above, per MOM.
Does the Employment Pass salary requirement increase with age?
Yes. MOM uses an age-graduated scale that benchmarks each candidate against local PMETs of a similar age. The floor applies to those aged 23 and below, then steps up each year until it plateaus at age 45 and above.
When does the Employment Pass salary threshold rise next?
From 1 January 2027, the youngest-applicant floor rises to S$6,000 a month for most sectors and S$6,600 for financial services. The age-45 cap rises to S$11,500 (most sectors) and S$12,700 (financial services).
How is the salary threshold different from COMPASS?
The qualifying salary is a pass or fail floor by age and sector. COMPASS is a separate 40-point test where salary appears as criterion C1, scoring 0, 10 or 20 points based on how the salary compares with local PMET salaries. A candidate must clear the floor and score at least 40 COMPASS points.
Is the Employment Pass salary higher than the S Pass salary?
Yes. The EP floor starts at S$5,600 a month (most sectors), while the S Pass minimum starts at S$3,300 a month from September 2025. The S Pass also carries a levy and quota that the EP does not.
Does the salary threshold change when I renew my Employment Pass?
Yes. At renewal, MOM applies the threshold current at that time, against the holder's age at that time. Because the holder is older, and because the threshold itself rises over time, the required salary at renewal is usually higher than at first issue.
Official Sources and References
- MOM - Eligibility for Employment Pass
- MOM - COMPASS for Employment Pass
- MOM - S Pass eligibility and qualifying salary
- MOM - Work passes and permits overview
Explore Catalyst Immigration’s other services:
- EP COMPASS Framework in Singapore
- EP vs S Pass in Singapore
- Minimum Salary for Work Permit in Singapore (2026)
- Employment Pass and Work Visa
- Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass
Talk to Catalyst Immigration
Catalyst Immigration checks a candidate's offer against the live MOM salary threshold for their exact age and sector, then maps the profile against COMPASS before you apply, so you submit knowing where you stand rather than guessing. We handle the full Employment Pass submission and renewal, and flag any salary gap early enough to fix it.