Key facts at a glance
Passing score
40 points
Across 4 foundational + 2 bonus criteria
2026 minimum salary
S$5,600/mo
S$6,200/mo for financial services
High-salary exemption
S$22,500/mo
No COMPASS assessment above this
Here's the answer before the mechanics: an Employment Pass application in Singapore needs to clear 40 points under COMPASS (the Complementarity Assessment Framework), MOM's points-based scoring system, and it needs a fixed monthly salary of at least S$5,600 (S$6,200 for financial services) just to be eligible to apply for 2026. Salary alone isn't the whole story: COMPASS scores four foundational criteria plus two bonus criteria, so a strong offer can still fail on points, and a middling salary can still pass with the right qualifications and hiring context.
This is a different question entirely from whether an Employment Pass holder pays CPF once hired (they don't, see our CPF guide). COMPASS decides whether MOM grants the pass at all; CPF only becomes relevant once you're already employed and being paid.
See what an EP-eligible salary actually nets after tax.
Open the Singapore Salary CalculatorHow the 40-point COMPASS score is built
COMPASS scores an Employment Pass application across six criteria, four foundational and two bonus. You need 40 points in total to pass:
| Criterion | Possible points | Assessed on |
|---|---|---|
| Salary | 0, 10, or 20 | Relative to the 65th and 90th percentile of local PMET salaries in your sector |
| Qualifications | 0, 10, or 20 | Degree-equivalent qualification from a recognised institution |
| Diversity | 0, 10, or 20 | Based on your nationality's existing share of the firm's EP workforce |
| Support for local employment | 0, 10, or 20 | Based on the firm's track record on fair hiring and local PMET headcount |
| Skills bonus (SOL) | 0 or 20 (bonus) | Job is on the Shortage Occupation List |
| Strategic economic priorities | 0 or 20 (bonus) | Employer is endorsed under a MOM-recognised economic priority |
The two bonus criteria (Skills Bonus and Strategic Economic Priorities) can push a score above what the four foundational criteria alone would produce, which is how an application with an average salary score can still clear 40 points overall.
The 2026 salary thresholds, and how the salary criterion is actually scored
From 1 January 2026, the minimum qualifying fixed monthly salary for a new Employment Pass application is S$5,600 for most sectors, and S$6,200 for financial services, a sector MOM has long held to a higher bar given typical compensation levels there. This is a floor, not the score itself: falling below it means your application isn't eligible to be assessed at all.
Within COMPASS, the salary criterion is scored relative to your sector's local PMET (Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians) salary distribution, not against the flat minimum. Meeting or exceeding the 65th percentile of local PMET pay in your sector and age band earns 10 points; meeting or exceeding the 90th percentile earns the full 20 points. A salary that clears the S$5,600 floor but sits below your sector's 65th percentile still scores 0 on this criterion, making the other five criteria carry more weight toward the 40-point total.
Renewals face the new criteria from 1 July 2026, not immediately
A common point of confusion: the 1 January 2026 changes apply to new applications straight away, but existing Employment Pass holders renewing their pass aren't assessed against the updated benchmarks until their pass expires on or after 1 July 2026. If your EP renewal falls before that date, you're assessed against the prior year's criteria, not the 2026 update, giving current holders a longer runway to plan around a renewal that might otherwise be tighter under the new thresholds.
Clearing COMPASS is eligibility, not a pay benchmark
Passing COMPASS at 40 points confirms MOM will grant the pass; it says nothing about whether the salary itself is competitive for the role or the market. Two candidates can both clear 40 points on very different salaries, one scoring heavily on qualifications and local-employment support, the other on a top-quartile salary alone.
Once you know the offer clears the eligibility bar, check what it actually nets you after Income Tax, and what it would cost your employer including SDL and other obligations, on the Singapore Employer Cost of Hiring Calculator.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the COMPASS framework?
COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) is MOM's points-based system for evaluating Employment Pass applications and renewals. Instead of salary being the only proxy for a candidate's quality, COMPASS scores an application across four foundational criteria (salary, qualifications, workforce diversity, and support for local employment) plus two bonus criteria, and requires a minimum total of 40 points to pass.
What is the minimum EP salary threshold for 2026?
S$5,600 per month for most sectors, and S$6,200 per month for the financial services sector, effective for new applications from 1 January 2026. This is the minimum floor just to be eligible to apply; it doesn't guarantee a pass, since the salary criterion within COMPASS itself is assessed against sector-specific benchmarks, not just this floor.
How does COMPASS score the salary criterion specifically?
Your fixed monthly salary is compared against the 65th and 90th percentile of local PMET (Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians) salaries in your specific sector and age band. Meeting or exceeding the 65th percentile earns 10 points; meeting or exceeding the 90th percentile earns the full 20 points. Falling below the 65th percentile earns 0 points on this criterion, which makes reaching 40 points overall harder even if you score well elsewhere.
Is COMPASS the same thing as the CPF rules for Employment Pass holders?
No, they're entirely different mechanisms at different stages. COMPASS determines whether MOM will approve your Employment Pass application or renewal in the first place, it's an eligibility gate. CPF (Central Provident Fund) is a payroll deduction question that only matters once you're already employed, and for EP holders the CPF answer is always 0%, regardless of your COMPASS score. A high COMPASS score gets you the pass; it has no bearing on payroll deductions once you're working.
Who is exempt from COMPASS?
Employment Pass holders earning above S$22,500 per month are exempt from the COMPASS assessment entirely. A handful of other narrow exemptions apply (such as certain intra-corporate transferees under specific trade agreements), but the S$22,500 high-salary exemption is the one most applicants will encounter.
When do the 2026 COMPASS changes take effect?
Updated salary benchmarks, qualification lists, and the Shortage Occupation List apply to all new Employment Pass applications from 1 January 2026. For renewals, the updated COMPASS criteria (including the new benchmarks) apply to passes expiring on or after 1 July 2026, giving existing EP holders a longer runway before the new thresholds affect their renewal.
Does passing COMPASS mean my salary is competitive, or just eligible?
Just eligible. COMPASS is a regulatory pass/fail gate at 40 points, not a benchmark for what a competitive Singapore salary looks like. A candidate can clear 40 points with a below-median offer by scoring well on qualifications, diversity, and local-employment support criteria instead. Check your actual take-home and how your offer compares to the market separately.
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