Short answer: the Employment Pass (EP) salary requirement is S$5,600 a month at age 23 or below, rising with age to S$10,700 at 45 and above. Financial services needs more: S$6,200 rising to S$11,800. From 1 January 2027 new applications need S$6,000 to S$11,500 (S$6,600 to S$12,700 in financial services). This EP salary requirement calculator returns the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) exact figure for your age, sector and timing, because MOM publishes a separate number for every year of age, not a band.
Figures checked 3 Oct 2026 against MOM's Employment Pass and S Pass eligibility pages and its Committee of Supply 2026 factsheet.
EP Salary Requirement Calculator
MOM's exact qualifying salary for every age from 23 to 45, for applications and renewals before and after the January 2027 increase.
Key Takeaways
- The EP qualifying salary is a fixed monthly salary: basic salary plus fixed monthly allowances. Bonuses, commission, overtime and variable allowances do not count.
- Each year of age adds roughly S$232 a month today (about S$250 from 2027) on the general scale, from age 23 up to 45.
- New applications from 1 January 2027 use the higher scale. Renewals switch later, for passes expiring from 1 January 2028.
- Meeting the salary is only the first gate. The application also needs 40 COMPASS points unless the fixed salary is S$22,500 or more.
- If an offer falls short of the EP figure, the S Pass floor for the same age is lower, but S Pass holders count against the employer's quota and carry a S$650 monthly levy.
EP Qualifying Salary by Age: MOM's Full Table
MOM publishes one figure for each age from 23 to 45. The table reproduces it in full for both sectors and both scales, so you can check the calculator against the source.
| Age | General, now | General, from 1 Jan 2027 | Financial services, now | Financial services, from 1 Jan 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 or below | S$5,600 | S$6,000 | S$6,200 | S$6,600 |
| 24 | S$5,832 | S$6,250 | S$6,455 | S$6,877 |
| 25 | S$6,064 | S$6,500 | S$6,709 | S$7,155 |
| 26 | S$6,295 | S$6,750 | S$6,964 | S$7,432 |
| 27 | S$6,527 | S$7,000 | S$7,218 | S$7,709 |
| 28 | S$6,759 | S$7,250 | S$7,473 | S$7,986 |
| 29 | S$6,991 | S$7,500 | S$7,727 | S$8,264 |
| 30 | S$7,223 | S$7,750 | S$7,982 | S$8,541 |
| 31 | S$7,455 | S$8,000 | S$8,236 | S$8,818 |
| 32 | S$7,686 | S$8,250 | S$8,491 | S$9,095 |
| 33 | S$7,918 | S$8,500 | S$8,745 | S$9,373 |
| 34 | S$8,150 | S$8,750 | S$9,000 | S$9,650 |
| 35 | S$8,382 | S$9,000 | S$9,255 | S$9,927 |
| 36 | S$8,614 | S$9,250 | S$9,509 | S$10,205 |
| 37 | S$8,845 | S$9,500 | S$9,764 | S$10,482 |
| 38 | S$9,077 | S$9,750 | S$10,018 | S$10,759 |
| 39 | S$9,309 | S$10,000 | S$10,273 | S$11,036 |
| 40 | S$9,541 | S$10,250 | S$10,527 | S$11,314 |
| 41 | S$9,773 | S$10,500 | S$10,782 | S$11,591 |
| 42 | S$10,005 | S$10,750 | S$11,036 | S$11,868 |
| 43 | S$10,236 | S$11,000 | S$11,291 | S$12,145 |
| 44 | S$10,468 | S$11,250 | S$11,545 | S$12,423 |
| 45 and above | S$10,700 | S$11,500 | S$11,800 | S$12,700 |
Which Scale Applies to You
For a new application, the date you submit decides it: on or before 31 December 2026 you are on the current scale, which has applied to new applications since 1 January 2025, and from 1 January 2027 you are on the higher one. Renewals follow the expiry date instead. A pass expiring up to 31 December 2027 renews on the current scale, while a pass expiring from 1 January 2028 needs the higher figure.
What Counts as Fixed Monthly Salary
MOM defines fixed monthly salary as basic monthly salary plus fixed monthly allowances. A fixed allowance is one that does not change from month to month, such as a set food or housing allowance. MOM excludes variable allowances, overtime, bonuses, commission, annual wage supplements, board fees, stock options and dividends, payments in kind, reimbursements, productivity incentives, employer pension or CPF-type contributions, and gratuities.
Employers sometimes pad the allowance line to clear the threshold. MOM has an FAQ explaining that it may reject an application where declared fixed allowances look unusually high, so keep the split between basic pay and allowances realistic.
Why Age Matters
The figure climbs with every year of age. A 40-year-old candidate on S$9,000 fails today, needing S$9,541, while a 30-year-old on the same S$9,000 clears the S$7,223 floor with room to spare.
Worked Examples
A 32-Year-Old Analyst Offered S$7,500
Outside financial services, the figure at 32 is S$7,686 today, so the offer is S$186 short. For an application in 2027 the figure becomes S$8,250, so the gap widens to S$750. Raising the fixed salary closes the gap; an S Pass is the other route, with a floor of S$3,914 at this age today.
A 28-Year-Old Joining a Bank
In financial services the figure at 28 is S$7,473 now and S$7,986 from 1 January 2027. An offer of S$7,800 clears it for an application in December 2026 but not in January 2027. If the start date can move, file before the change. The renewal two years later will be judged on the higher scale.
A 45-Year-Old Renewing in 2028
A general-sector EP holder aged 45 or above on S$11,000 meets the current S$10,700. If the pass expires in February 2028, the renewal needs S$11,500, so the salary must rise by S$500 before the renewal is filed.
How the EP Figure Compares With the S Pass
When an offer falls below the EP figure, employers often look at the S Pass. Its salary scale is lower, but it comes with a quota and a levy. Selected ages:
| Age | S Pass general, now | S Pass general, from 1 Jan 2027 | S Pass financial services, now | S Pass financial services, from 1 Jan 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 or below | S$3,300 | S$3,600 | S$3,800 | S$4,000 |
| 30 | S$3,777 | S$4,077 | S$4,389 | S$4,525 |
| 35 | S$4,118 | S$4,418 | S$4,809 | S$4,900 |
| 40 | S$4,459 | S$4,759 | S$5,230 | S$5,275 |
| 45 and above | S$4,800 | S$5,100 | S$5,650 | S$5,650 |
The S Pass levy is S$650 a month per holder, and S Pass holders are capped at 10% of total workforce in services and 15% in other sectors. Our S Pass quota calculator shows whether you have room, and our EP vs S Pass comparison sets out the trade-offs.
What Is Changing
- From 1 January 2027, new EP applications need S$6,000 to S$11,500 (S$6,600 to S$12,700 in financial services), new S Pass applications need S$3,600 to S$5,100 (S$4,000 to S$5,650), and the August 2026 COMPASS C1 salary benchmarks apply.
- Renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028 move to the higher EP and S Pass scales.
MOM announced the 2027 scale at the Committee of Supply in March 2026; any later change will come from MOM in the same way. For the points side of the application, use our COMPASS points calculator.
Planning a Hire Across the Change
For a candidate near the line, the cheapest fix is timing: a new application filed by 31 December 2026 is judged on today's scale. Build the higher scale into the salary review before the first renewal, because a pass issued in late 2026 for two years expires in 2028 and the renewal will need the new figure.
Frequently Asked Questions About the EP Salary Requirement
What is the minimum salary for an Employment Pass in 2026?
S$5,600 a month at age 23 or below, rising with age to S$10,700 at 45 and above. In financial services it is S$6,200 rising to S$11,800. MOM publishes a separate figure for each year of age.
Is the EP salary requirement going up in 2027?
Yes. New applications from 1 January 2027 need S$6,000 to S$11,500, and S$6,600 to S$12,700 in financial services. Renewals use the new scale for passes expiring from 1 January 2028.
Does a bonus count towards the EP salary requirement?
No. MOM counts basic monthly salary plus fixed monthly allowances. Bonuses, commission, overtime, variable allowances and annual wage supplements are excluded.
Is the salary requirement higher for older candidates?
Yes. It rises for each year of age from 23 to 45. A 40-year-old needs S$9,541 today on the general scale, compared with S$5,600 for a 23-year-old.
Does meeting the salary mean the EP will be approved?
No. The salary is the first gate. The application must also pass COMPASS with 40 points unless the fixed salary is S$22,500 or more, and MOM assesses the whole application before deciding.
What counts as financial services for the higher figure?
MOM applies the higher scale to roles in the financial services sector. If the employer's business is banking, insurance or fund management, use the financial services figure, and check with MOM if the classification is unclear.
What can I do if the offer is below the EP salary?
Raise the fixed salary, file a new application before the 1 January 2027 increase if timing allows, or consider an S Pass, which has a lower salary floor but is subject to quota and a S$650 monthly levy.
Official Sources and References
- Employment Pass eligibility (MOM)
- What is a fixed monthly salary? (MOM FAQ)
- Rejection over high fixed allowances (MOM FAQ)
- S Pass eligibility (MOM)
- Foreign workforce policy announcements at COS 2026 (MOM PDF)
Explore Catalyst Immigration’s other services:
- Employment Pass Salary Threshold
- EP COMPASS Framework in Singapore
- What Happens When an EP Expires
- Switching Jobs on an Employment Pass
- Employment Pass and Work Visa Service
Talk to Catalyst Immigration
A salary a few hundred dollars under the line is the most common reason an otherwise strong EP application needs rework. Catalyst Immigration checks the salary, the COMPASS score and the timing against MOM's rules before you submit, and handles the application for you. MOM makes the decision; we make sure the numbers it sees are right.