Singapore EP Minimum Monthly Salary to Rise to S$6,000 from 2027: What It Means for International Students

After finishing your studies in Singapore and looking to stay for work, most bachelor's and master's graduates will need to apply for an Employment Pass (EP). According to the official website of Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM), starting 2027-01-01, the minimum qualifying salary for new EP applications will increase from S$5,600 to S$6,000; for the financial services sector, it will rise from S$6,200 to S$6,600. For renewals, the new standards will apply to passes expiring from 2028-01-01 onwards.

For students graduating in 2027 and beyond, this means the starting salary threshold to secure an EP has been raised. Below, we break down the rules based on the latest information from the MOM website.

EP Approval: A Two-Stage Process

MOM uses a "two-stage" assessment for EP applications:

1. Stage 1: Minimum Qualifying Salary. Your monthly salary must meet at least the EP qualifying salary. This threshold is based on the top one-third of the local Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians (PMET) salary distribution and is adjusted by age.
2. Stage 2: COMPASS Scoring. Unless exempted, you must also pass the COMPASS points-based framework with a minimum total score of 40 points.

MOM makes it clear: if you do not pass Stage 1, no amount of COMPASS points will get you an EP.

Minimum Qualifying Salary: Old vs. New Standards

Sector	Current Standard	New Applications from 2027-01-01 (Renewals for Passes Expiring from 2028-01-01)
All sectors except financial services	From S$5,600; S$10,700 for age 45 and above	From S$6,000; S$11,500 for age 45 and above
Financial services sector	From S$6,200; S$11,800 for age 45 and above	From S$6,600; S$12,700 for age 45 and above

This amount increases progressively with age starting from 23. Taking the non-financial sector as an example, here are some of the age brackets published by MOM:

Age	Current Standard	New Applications from 2027-01-01
23 and 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
30	S$7,223	S$7,750
35	S$8,382	S$9,000

Bachelor's graduates are typically between 22 and 24 years old, while master's graduates are usually between 24 and 27. As you can see, the older you are, the higher the threshold. For the financial sector's age brackets, please refer to the MOM website.

COMPASS: A Minimum of 40 Points to Pass

COMPASS is a points-based framework with 6 criteria. The first 4 are foundational, each scoring 0, 10, or 20 points; the last 2 are bonus criteria.

Criterion	What It Evaluates	Points
C1 Salary	Where the fixed monthly salary falls within the local PMET salary distribution for the same sector	20 points for the 90th percentile and above; 10 points for the 65th to 90th percentile
C2 Qualifications	University attended	See below
C3 Diversity	The share of the applicant's nationality among the company's PMET workforce	20 points for less than 5%; 10 points for 5% to 25%
C4 Support for Local Talent	The company's share of local PMETs compared to the sector	20 points for the 50th percentile and above; 10 points for the 20th to 50th percentile
C5 Skills Bonus	Whether the job is on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL)	10 or 20 points
C6 Strategic Economic Priorities Bonus	Whether the company participates in designated government programs	10 points

Here are the points most relevant to students:

• C1 and the minimum qualifying salary are two different things. The minimum qualifying salary is the baseline; C1 compares your fixed monthly salary to that of local PMETs in the same sector, and you only score points if you reach the 65th percentile.
• C2 Qualifications points: Graduating from a university in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings, other top Asian universities, or Singapore's autonomous public universities (such as NUS, NTU, SMU) earns 20 points. Other qualifications recognized as equivalent to a bachelor's degree earn 10 points. Foreign degrees awarded by private institutions in Singapore may also be considered.
• Default points for small companies: If the company has fewer than 25 PMET employees, C3 and C4 each default to 10 points.
• C3 and C4 evaluate the company, not the individual. These two criteria depend on the employer's workforce composition. While you can research your target companies during your job search, these are not factors you can change yourself.

C1 Salary Benchmarks Have Also Been Updated

According to a report by HR media outlet HR Online in August 2026, MOM has released the new C1 salary benchmarks, applicable to new applications from 2027-01-01, and renewals for passes expiring from 2027-07-01. For specific amounts across different sectors and age groups, please use the Self-Assessment Tool on the MOM website.

Who Is Exempt from COMPASS?

You are exempt from COMPASS scoring if you meet any of the following conditions (the minimum qualifying salary must still be met):

• Fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500
• Applying as an intra-corporate transferee
• Job duration of one month or less

Recent graduates typically do not fall into these categories, so they must go through the standard scoring process.

What This Means for International Students

• Higher starting salary threshold. For EP applications submitted after 2027-01-01, even those aged 23 and below must earn a minimum monthly salary of S$6,000 (S$6,600 for the financial sector). Future graduates should prepare to meet at least this standard; whether further adjustments will be made depends on future MOM announcements.
• University background earns bonus points. Graduating from a Singapore autonomous university or a top 100 QS-ranked university earns 20 points under the C2 Qualifications criterion, putting you halfway to the required 40 points.
• Major and industry affect the outcome. C1 compares salaries by industry, and C5 checks if the role is on the shortage list. When choosing a major, it is wise to consider your post-graduation career path.
• EPs are applied for by the employer. During your job search, make sure to ask if the company is willing to apply for an EP for foreign employees. MOM also requires employers to meet the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) job advertising requirements before making a new application.
• Internship experience helps. Finding an employer willing to hire you is the first step, and internship experience during your studies can significantly aid your job search.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. The official assessment of an EP is based on the MOM website and the results of the Self-Assessment Tool.

Need Help?

If you are planning to study in Singapore and want to consider your major, internships, and post-graduation plans together, check out our Singapore university application services and overseas internship programs, or book a consultation directly.

References

• MOM: Eligibility for Employment Pass
• HR Online: Singapore announces further updates to COMPASS C1 salary benchmarks for Employment Pass applications