Before you file an Employment Pass application, two separate tests decide whether it will be approved: the qualifying salary floor (Stage 1) and the COMPASS points assessment (Stage 2). Both must be cleared. Use the calculator below to get an instant, indicative read on where a candidate stands against MOM’s published 2026 criteria, drawn from our full Employment Pass & COMPASS eligibility guide.
Singapore Employment Pass: Salary & COMPASS Calculator
A free, indicative estimate of whether a candidate clears MOM's two-stage Employment Pass test: the qualifying salary floor, then the COMPASS points assessment. Figures verified against mom.gov.sg on 15 September 2026.
Stage 1 — EP Qualifying Salary
Stage 2 — COMPASS points test
Sector-specific salary benchmark dollar figures are published separately by MOM and differ by industry — if unsure, we can check your exact benchmark for you.
Firms with fewer than 25 PMETs score 10 points by default on both C3 and C4 — most foreign-founder startups qualify for this.
Bonus criteria (optional, up to 30 extra points)
This tool gives an indicative estimate based on MOM's published Employment Pass eligibility criteria and COMPASS framework, verified against mom.gov.sg on 15 September 2026. It is not an official assessment and does not constitute immigration advice. For a definitive check, talk to our MOM-licensed team (Employment Agency Licence 24S2425).
How this calculator works
Stage 1 checks the candidate’s fixed monthly salary against MOM’s qualifying salary table, which scales up by age from 23 to 45 and differs slightly for financial services roles. Stage 2 applies the COMPASS framework’s four foundational criteria (C1–C4) plus two optional bonus criteria (C5–C6), against the 40-point pass mark. Candidates earning a fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 or more skip COMPASS entirely.
Firms with fewer than 25 Employment Pass, S Pass and local PMET staff combined receive the default 10 points on C3 and C4, which is why most foreign-founder startups clear those two criteria automatically.
What this tool does not do
This calculator gives an indicative estimate only. It cannot check a candidate against MOM’s sector-specific salary benchmark tables, confirm whether a role sits on the Shortage Occupation List, or account for agency discretion on the Strategic Economic Priorities bonus. For a definitive assessment tied to your specific hire, speak with our MOM-licensed Employment Pass team (Employment Agency Licence 24S2425).
MOM’s Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) vs this calculator
MOM’s official Employment Pass assessment tool is the Employment / S Pass Self-Assessment Tool (SAT). It is free, but the enhanced version, which shows the COMPASS score, needs a Singpass login and access to MOM’s EP eService (formerly EP Online), so in practice it is run by the employer or its employment agent. This calculator needs no login and is built for planning before a job offer or before a company is set up.
| Question | MOM Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) | VIVOS EP calculator (this page) |
|---|---|---|
| Who can run it | Employers and employment agents with EP eService access (Singpass login) | Anyone, no login |
| Firm-level COMPASS data (C3 diversity, C4 local employment) | Uses the employer’s own MOM records | You choose the band |
| C1 salary benchmark | Checked against MOM’s sector benchmarks | You choose the percentile band |
| What the result means | “Not eligible”: do not apply, the application will be rejected. “Eligible”: around a 90% chance of approval, not a guarantee | Indicative only |
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Best used for | The final check before the employer files | Early planning and structuring |
Source: MOM, Employment / S Pass Self-Assessment Tool page, checked 9 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EP assessment tool?
It usually means MOM’s Self-Assessment Tool (SAT), which gives an indicative outcome for an Employment Pass or S Pass application, including the COMPASS score, before the employer applies or renews. The enhanced SAT needs a Singpass login and EP eService access.
Is a SAT “eligible” result a guarantee?
No. MOM says an “eligible” result means around a 90% chance that the candidate will get the pass, because other checks, such as the candidate’s history, are not part of the self-assessment, and the actual COMPASS score can differ. A “not eligible” result means the application will be rejected, so the employer should not apply.
What salary does a candidate need at my age?
For all sectors except financial services, the EP qualifying salary is S$5,600 a month at age 23 or below, S$7,223 at 30, S$8,382 at 35, S$9,541 at 40 and S$10,700 at 45 and above, for new applications before 1 January 2027. From 1 January 2027 these rise to S$6,000, S$7,750, S$9,000, S$10,250 and S$11,500. Every age from 23 to 45, and the financial-services figures, are in our EP qualifying salary by age tables.
Does a candidate earning S$22,500 or more need COMPASS?
No. A fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 is exempt from COMPASS, as are overseas intra-corporate transferees and roles of one month or less. The application still needs to meet the Stage 1 qualifying salary, which S$22,500 clears at every age.
