Quick answer: There is no general Work Permit minimum salary in Singapore in 2026. The employer and worker agree on the pay. The main exception is the Non-Traditional Source Occupation List (NTS-OL). Workers in those jobs must earn a fixed S$2,000 a month or more. The S Pass starts at S$3,300 and the Employment Pass at S$5,600, both rising in January 2027.
This guide covers the Work Permit minimum salary in Singapore and the typical Work Permit salary range. It also explains the levy, the new rules and how pay compares with other passes.
What Is a Work Permit in Singapore?
A Work Permit is the work pass for semi-skilled foreign workers. It is used in the construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process and services sectors. Migrant domestic workers also hold a type of Work Permit.
Singapore has three main work passes. The Work Permit is for semi-skilled jobs. The S Pass is for technicians and supervisors. The Employment Pass (EP) is for professionals and managers. The S Pass and EP have a fixed minimum salary. The Work Permit, in most cases, does not.
Is There a Work Permit Minimum Salary in Singapore in 2026?
For most jobs, no. MOM does not set one minimum salary for all Work Permit holders. The employer and worker agree on the pay. The employer then declares it to MOM in the application.
The worker can see this declared salary in the In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter. It also shows in MOM’s SGWorkPass app.
The S$2,000 minimum for NTS Occupation List jobs
There is one key exception. Manufacturing and services firms can hire Work Permit holders from non-traditional sources for set jobs only. These jobs form the Non-Traditional Source Occupation List (NTS-OL). MOM sets two rules:
- The worker must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$2,000.
- NTS-OL workers must stay within 8% of the firm’s total workforce.
The NTS-OL countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Jobs on the list include cooks, kitchen assistants, waiters, manufacturing operators, heavy vehicle drivers and cabin attendants.
Who decides the salary for other jobs?
For jobs outside the NTS-OL, the employer and worker agree on the salary. Once the pass is approved, the employer must:
- Pay the salary declared to MOM.
- Pay on time, within 7 days after each salary period ends.
- Provide proper housing, medical insurance and other required benefits.
Hiring From Myanmar, India or China? Get Worker Certificates Into English for MOM
Typical Work Permit Salary Range in Singapore (2026)
Many people search for a “Work Permit salary range”. MOM does not publish an official range by job. But its rules and data give clear markers.
| Salary marker | Amount | What it means |
|---|
| Median Work Permit salary (MOM data) | About S$1,100 a month | Half of Work Permit holders earned less, half earned more (Dec 2020, domestic workers not included) |
| Share earning under S$3,000 | About 98% | Nearly all Work Permit holders |
| Higher-skilled levy by salary | S$1,600 fixed or more | Lets construction and manufacturing workers count as higher-skilled |
| NTS-OL jobs | S$2,000 fixed or more | Legal floor for these jobs |
| S Pass starts | S$3,300 fixed or more | Above this, an S Pass may fit better |
Source: MOM written answer to Parliament, 2 Aug 2021, and MOM sector pages, checked October 2026. MOM has not published a newer median.
So most Work Permit salary in Singapore sits well below S$3,000 a month. Pay goes up with these factors:
- Sector and job. Shipyard and construction trades often pay more than general cleaning.
- Skills certificates. A certified worker can move to the higher-skilled levy, and employers tend to pay them more.
- NTS-OL jobs. These must pay at least S$2,000.
- Overtime. Overtime is paid on top of the fixed salary.
Treat any job-site figure as a market estimate, not a MOM rule.
Is There a Minimum Wage in Singapore?
Singapore has no national minimum wage. Instead, two rules cover locals:
- Progressive Wage Model (PWM): set wages for locals in jobs like cleaning and security.
- Local Qualifying Salary (LQS): firms with foreign workers must pay other locals at least S$1,800 a month.
Neither rule applies to Work Permit holders. But the LQS still matters to them. Only locals earning the LQS count fully towards a firm’s foreign worker quota.
Singapore Work Permit New Rules 2026: What Changed
Work Permit salary rules did not change in the 2025 update or in 2026. But other rules did.
1. No maximum period of employment (from 1 July 2025)
Many Work Permit holders used to have a cap on years of work. MOM removed it on 1 July 2025. Holders can now keep working as long as they meet the rules and the pass is renewed.
2. Higher age limits (from 1 July 2026)
New applicants must be below 62. Existing holders can work until 64. This follows Singapore’s higher retirement age.
3. New source countries (from 1 June 2025)
Bhutan, Cambodia and Laos were added as non-traditional sources. Firms can hire workers from them for NTS-OL jobs.
4. More jobs on the NTS Occupation List (2025 and 2026)
In 2025, MOM added jobs such as cooks, heavy vehicle drivers and manufacturing operators. From September 2026, it added more roles in food services, social services and air transport. These include waiters, infant caregivers and cabin attendants. The S$2,000 floor and the 8% cap apply to all of them.
5. Work Permit levy changes announced for 2028
In March 2026, MOM announced levy changes for 2028:
- Manufacturing and services: levy tiers drop from three to two.
- Marine shipyard: the basic-skilled levy rises from S$500 to S$600.
- Process: the basic-skilled levy rises to S$600 for Malaysian, North Asian and PRC workers. For non-traditional source workers, it rises to S$800.
Work Permit Levy and Quota Rules in 2026
Even without a set minimum salary, a Work Permit holder has other costs. The two biggest are the levy and the quota.
Foreign worker levy rates
Employers pay a monthly levy for each Work Permit holder. The rate depends on the sector and the worker’s skill. It also depends on how many foreign workers the firm has.
| Sector | Higher-skilled (R1) per month | Basic-skilled (R2) per month |
|---|
| Services | S$300 to S$600, by quota tier | S$450 to S$800, by quota tier |
| Manufacturing | S$250 to S$550, by quota tier | S$370 to S$650, by quota tier |
| Construction (Malaysia, North Asia, PRC) | S$300 | S$700 |
| Construction (non-traditional sources) | S$500 | S$900 |
| Process (Malaysia, North Asia, PRC) | S$200 | S$450 |
| Process (non-traditional sources) | S$300 | S$650 |
| Marine shipyard | S$350 | S$500 |
Source: MOM sector requirement pages, checked October 2026.
The levy is the employer’s cost. It is not part of the worker’s salary.
Work Permit quota (Dependency Ratio Ceiling)
Each sector has a cap. It limits the share of staff who can be Work Permit and S Pass holders.
| Sector | Maximum share of Work Permit and S Pass holders |
|---|
| Construction | 83.3% |
| Process | 83.3% |
| Marine shipyard | 75% |
| Manufacturing | 60% |
| Services | 35% |
Because of the quota, many firms must hire more local staff before they can hire more foreign workers.
Moving a Worker Up to the Higher-Skilled Levy? Have the Skills Certificates Translated First
S Pass Minimum Salary in Singapore 2026
The S Pass has a fixed minimum qualifying salary that rises with age.
| S Pass qualifying salary | Now (2026) | From 1 Jan 2027 (new applications) |
|---|
| All sectors except financial services | S$3,300 (up to S$4,800 at age 45+) | S$3,600 (up to S$5,100 at age 45+) |
| Financial services | S$3,800 (up to S$5,650 at age 45+) | S$4,000 (up to S$5,650 at age 45+) |
- The 2027 salary applies to new applications from 1 January 2027. It applies to renewals expiring from 1 January 2028.
- The S Pass levy is S$650 a month in all sectors since 1 September 2025.
- MOM expects the S Pass minimum to reach about S$4,000 to S$4,500 by around 2030.
Before applying, employers can test a candidate’s salary with MOM’s free SAT checker explained in our step-by-step guide.
Employment Pass Minimum Salary in Singapore 2026
The Employment Pass has the highest minimum of the three passes. It also rises with age.
| EP qualifying salary | Now (2026) | From 1 Jan 2027 (new applications) |
|---|
| All sectors except financial services | S$5,600 (up to S$10,700 at age 45+) | S$6,000 (up to S$11,500 at age 45+) |
| Financial services | S$6,200 (up to S$11,800 at age 45+) | S$6,600 (up to S$12,700 at age 45+) |
Most EP applicants must also pass the COMPASS points test. There is no levy and no quota for EP holders.
EP applicants from China often need their degree and its CSCSE verification report in English. A Chinese certificate translation for MOM helps MOM match the degree to the university.
Work Permit vs S Pass vs Employment Pass Salary: 2026 Comparison
| Feature | Work Permit | S Pass | Employment Pass |
|---|
| Who it is for | Semi-skilled workers | Mid-skilled workers | Professionals, managers, executives |
| Minimum salary 2026 | No general minimum (S$2,000 for NTS-OL jobs) | S$3,300 (financial services S$3,800) | S$5,600 (financial services S$6,200) |
| Minimum salary from 2027 | No change announced | S$3,600 (financial services S$4,000) | S$6,000 (financial services S$6,600) |
| Salary rises with age | No | Yes | Yes |
| Levy | Yes, by sector and skill | S$650 a month | No levy |
| Quota | Yes, by sector | Yes (10% or 15%) | No quota |
| Age limit | Apply below 62, work until 64 | No fixed age limit | No fixed age limit |
Salary is only one part of the picture. Family passes, PR and quotas also differ, as set out in our Work Permit and S Pass comparison.
Work Permit Minimum Salary in Singapore: History Since 2022
This table adds the S Pass and EP. Financial services figures are in brackets.
| Effective date | Work Permit | S Pass | Employment Pass |
|---|
| Before September 2022 | No general minimum | S$2,500 | S$4,500 (S$5,000) |
| September 2022 | No general minimum | S$3,000 (S$3,500) | S$5,000 (S$5,500) |
| September 2023 | No general minimum | S$3,150 (S$3,650) | S$5,000 (S$5,500) |
| January 2025 (EP) / September 2025 (S Pass) | No general minimum | S$3,300 (S$3,800) | S$5,600 (S$6,200) |
| January 2027 (announced) | No general minimum | S$3,600 (S$4,000) | S$6,000 (S$6,600) |
The trend is clear. The S Pass and EP bars keep rising, while Work Permits rely on levies and quotas.
What the 2026 Rules Mean for Employers
- NTS-OL hiring costs more. Pay at least S$2,000 fixed and stay within the 8% cap.
- Plan for 2027 and 2028. Check S Pass and EP salaries and levy budgets now.
- Keep records accurate. Payslips must match the salary declared to MOM.
We often see delays when a worker’s papers and the declared details do not match. Getting everything checked through English versions of worker records for MOM before you apply helps avoid this.
What the 2026 Rules Mean for Workers
- Longer careers. There is no longer a maximum period of employment.
- Work until 64, if the employer renews the pass.
- Salary protection in NTS-OL jobs, with at least S$2,000 fixed a month.
- A path upwards. A worker whose skills and pay grow can move to an S Pass.
A worker moving up to an S Pass will need the diploma in English. The course name and grades must match. Qualification translation for work pass upgrades keeps every detail the same as the original.
Documents Needed for Work Permit, S Pass and EP Applications
MOM checks identity, skills and work history first. Many of these papers are not in English.
- Work Permit: passport details and, for some sectors, skills certificates or past job records.
- S Pass: diploma or degree certificates and transcripts.
- Employment Pass: degree certificates, plus verification proof for many qualifications.
- Family passes: marriage and birth certificates, for S Pass and EP holders who bring family.
Workers from Myanmar often hold ID cards and trade certificates in Burmese. Translating Myanmar certificates into English lets MOM and the employer read the names and dates clearly.
Get MOM Documents Ready Early
Clear documents make every application faster. Non-English papers must go in with an English translation.
Later on, you may need papers for PR or family passes. The Singapore office that translates MOM and ICA paperwork can help then too.
Preparing Work Permit, S Pass or EP Papers? Send Every Non-English Document to Us
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an employer reduce a Work Permit holder’s salary after the pass is approved?
The employer should pay the salary declared to MOM. Any change must be agreed with the worker and follow MOM rules and the Employment Act. Employers who are unsure should check with MOM first.
Is there a minimum salary for Malaysian Work Permit holders?
No. Malaysia is a traditional source country, so the S$2,000 NTS-OL floor does not apply. The employer and the Malaysian worker agree on the pay, as for most other Work Permit jobs.
Is there a minimum salary for migrant domestic workers?
MOM does not set one. Some source countries’ embassies set their own minimum pay for their helpers, and these can change. Check with the embassy or your employment agency before you sign the contract.
Can an employer deduct the foreign worker levy from the worker’s salary?
No. The levy is the employer’s cost. It is an offence to deduct the levy or recover it from the worker in any way.
Can housing costs count towards a Work Permit holder’s fixed salary?
Only if the employer pays it as part of the basic salary or a fixed monthly allowance. The employer can then deduct the housing cost with the worker’s agreement. The deduction cannot be more than the real cost or 25% of the salary.
Conclusion
In 2026, there is still no general Work Permit minimum salary in Singapore. The exception is the S$2,000 fixed salary for NTS-OL jobs. Most Work Permit holders earn well below S$3,000 a month, and pay rises with skills, sector and overtime.
The bigger changes are elsewhere. There is no maximum employment period, holders can work until 64, and new levies start in 2028. The S Pass and EP minimums rise from January 2027.
