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The revised thresholds will apply to new EP applications submitted from 1 January 2027 and to renewals of EPs expiring from 1 July 2027.
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has published its latest COMPASS C1 salary benchmarks, setting out the fixed monthly salary levels that Employment Pass (EP) candidates need to earn in order to receive points under the framework.
The updated benchmarks, released in August 2026, will apply to:
- new EP applications submitted from 1 January 2027, and
- EP renewals for passes expiring from 1 July 2027.
The existing benchmarks, released in August 2025, remain relevant for new EP applications made between 1 January and 31 December 2026, as well as renewals of EPs expiring between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027.
How C1 salary points work
C1 is one of the foundational criteria under Singapore’s COMPASSS Framework. It assesses a candidate’s fixed monthly salary against the salaries of local professionals, managers, executives, and technicians (PMETs) in the employer’s sector.
A candidate can receive:
- 10 points where their fixed monthly salary meets or exceeds the 65th percentile of local PMET wages for their sector and age group; or
- 20 points where their salary meets or exceeds the 90th percentile.
The applicable salary increases progressively with the candidate’s age, from age 23 through age 45 and above. Employers must therefore check both the correct sector classification and the candidate’s age when assessing the expected C1 score.
The benchmarks are updated annually using data from MOM’s Manpower Research and Statistics Department’s Comprehensive Labour Force Survey.
2027 benchmarks
The updated figures vary significantly by sector. For example:
Professional services — applicants aged 35
- 2026 benchmark for 10 points: SGD 9,556
- 2026 benchmark for 20 points: SGD 17,618
Info-communication technology — applicants aged 30
- 2026 benchmark for 10 points: SGD 9,226
- 2026 benchmark for 20 points: SGD 14,204
Banking and other financial activities n.e.c — applicants aged 25
- 2026 benchmark for 10 points: SGD 8,772
- 2026 benchmark for 20 points: SGD 12,819
C1 scoring does not replace the EP qualifying salary
Employers should note that COMPASS salary points and EP eligibility are separate considerations.
Candidates who do not meet the applicable EP qualifying salary will not be eligible for an EP, regardless of the number of points they may receive under C1 or other COMPASS criteria.
At the other end of the scale, candidates earning at least SGD 22,500 in fixed monthly salary are exempt from COMPASS.
What employers should do
Employers with upcoming hires or renewals should review the new benchmark tables well before filing an application. In particular, they should:
- Confirm their organisation’s MOM sector classification.
- Identify the relevant salary threshold based on the candidate’s age.
- Check whether the proposed salary will result in 10 or 20 C1 points.
- Recalculate the candidate’s overall COMPASS score.
- Pay particular attention to cases where the proposed salary is close to a scoring threshold.
For candidates whose overall COMPASS result depends on C1 points, early salary planning may help avoid last-minute changes to the application strategy.
Read the updated benchmark by sector here.
Information adapted from Berry Appleman & Leiden and Erickson where relevant.
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