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The Employment Pass (EP) minimum salary is S$5,600 a month at age 23 or below, and it rises with age to S$10,700 at 45 and above. For new applications from it becomes S$6,000 up to S$11,500. Financial services has a higher scale.
Checked against the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
What is the EP minimum salary by age?
MOM sets the qualifying salary by age, benchmarked to the top third of local professional, manager, executive and technician earnings. This table covers all sectors except financial services.
| Age | Now | From 1 January |
|---|---|---|
| 23 or below | S$5,600 | S$6,000 |
| 24 | S$5,832 | S$6,250 |
| 25 | S$6,064 | S$6,500 |
| 26 | S$6,295 | S$6,750 |
| 27 | S$6,527 | S$7,000 |
| 28 | S$6,759 | S$7,250 |
| 29 | S$6,991 | S$7,500 |
| 30 | S$7,223 | S$7,750 |
| 31 | S$7,455 | S$8,000 |
| 32 | S$7,686 | S$8,250 |
| 33 | S$7,918 | S$8,500 |
| 34 | S$8,150 | S$8,750 |
| 35 | S$8,382 | S$9,000 |
| 36 | S$8,614 | S$9,250 |
| 37 | S$8,845 | S$9,500 |
| 38 | S$9,077 | S$9,750 |
| 39 | S$9,309 | S$10,000 |
| 40 | S$9,541 | S$10,250 |
| 41 | S$9,773 | S$10,500 |
| 42 | S$10,005 | S$10,750 |
| 43 | S$10,236 | S$11,000 |
| 44 | S$10,468 | S$11,250 |
| 45 and above | S$10,700 | S$11,500 |
Read the row for the candidate's age at application, then compare with the fixed monthly salary in the offer. The step between ages is not a round number today, so use the table and not a guess. From the January change, the step is S$250 for each year of age.
What is the salary for financial services?
Financial services candidates face a higher scale. MOM publishes the end points like this.
| Sector | Age 23 or below | Age 45 and above |
|---|---|---|
| Financial services, now | S$6,200 | S$11,800 |
| Financial services, from 1 January | S$6,600 | S$12,700 |
The scale also rises in steps with age between the two ages. The full age list for this sector is on MOM's eligibility page.
When do the higher salaries start?
MOM announced the increase this year. It takes effect for new EP applications from , and for renewals of passes expiring from . MOM also lifts the S Pass minimum for new applications from S$3,300 to S$3,600 in January.
Why it matters for hiring plans: an application you submit in December is judged on the current table, while the same candidate in January is judged on the higher one. If a candidate sits close to the line, the filing date can decide the outcome.
What counts towards the salary?
MOM refers to a fixed monthly salary. Treat that as the guaranteed monthly pay in the offer letter, not an estimate of annual earnings. The exact definition sits on a linked MOM page that we could not read in full, so confirm with MOM before you rely on allowances, bonuses or overtime to reach the line.
Is salary all you need for the EP?
No. There are two stages. Stage one is the salary. Stage two is COMPASS, a points test where the candidate must reach 40 points. Candidates earning a fixed S$22,500 or more a month, intra-corporate transferees and roles of one month or less are exempt from COMPASS.
The employer must also advertise the role on MyCareersFuture under the Fair Consideration Framework. Our Employment Pass guide covers fees, timelines and validity, and the COMPASS guide explains the points.
How does the salary compare with an S Pass?
The S Pass floor is S$3,300 now, rising to S$3,600 for new applications from January. The gap shows why many mid-level roles fall under the S Pass and not the EP. The two passes have different rules, quotas and levies, so use MOM's S Pass pages for that route.
What if the offer is below the line?
You have three options, and none of them involves a workaround on the figures. Raise the fixed monthly salary to the right row for the candidate's age. Check whether another pass, such as the S Pass, fits the role. Or review whether the person is better placed under a different route, such as the EntrePass for founders. If you are the owner and plan to hold the role yourself, read the page on EP for a company director.
Should a provider check the numbers for you?
Reading the table is simple. The harder part is mixing salary, COMPASS and the advertising rule for a specific hire. This site is an independent guide and not MOM. Use the quote form on this page if you want suitable providers to contact you about a work pass application. We may earn a referral fee when a request becomes a client, which does not change any figure above.
Sources
- MOM, Employment Pass eligibility: https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/eligibility (age tables now and from 1 January, financial services end points, renewal timing, COMPASS exemption at S$22,500).
- MOM, Employment Pass key facts: https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/key-facts (salary start point and who applies).
- MOM, COMPASS: https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/upcoming-changes-to-employment-pass-eligibility/complementarity-assessment-framework-compass (40 points, exemptions).
- MOM, S Pass eligibility: https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/s-pass/eligibility (S Pass floor S$3,300 now and S$3,600 from January).
