That is only the eligibility line. C1 points start at the 65th percentile; near the threshold it may be 0 in some sectors and age groups.
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EMPLOYMENT PASS
The gap between the EP salary threshold and the real approval line
Short answer
The minimum salary threshold (S$5,600) is the line to "be eligible for scoring", not the line to "pass". In COMPASS, salary earns 10 points at the 65th percentile and 20 at the 90th percentile of local PMET pay — in some sectors and age groups, a salary just above the minimum may fall below the 65th percentile and score 0 on C1 (check MOM's current C1 benchmark table). So the real approval line is usually well above the minimum, depending on how much your other five criteria can make up.
Two different lines
| Minimum threshold | Real approval line | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Eligibility to be scored | Reach 40 points |
| General (2026) | S$5,600 | Depends on other five criteria, usually higher |
| C1 salary points | Depends on sector/age benchmark; near the threshold may be 0 | 10 at 65th / 20 at 90th percentile |
Why "eligible" is not "approved"
This is the most misunderstood point. The minimum threshold (S$5,600 general; rising to S$6,000, or S$6,600 for financial services, for new applications from 1 January 2027 and for renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028; Source: MOM, verified 2026-09) is a qualifying line: below it, you are not even scored. But meeting it only buys the ticket in — the 40 COMPASS points decide the outcome.
The key is how C1 salary is scored: not "did you hit S$5,600", but "where does your salary rank among local PMETs of the same age and sector". 10 points at the 65th percentile, 20 at the 90th. In some sectors and age groups, a salary near the minimum may fall below the 65th percentile and score 0 on C1; MOM does not say the threshold always scores 0, so check MOM's current C1 benchmark table.
So if C1 and C2 both score 0: at a firm with 25 or more PMETs, C3 and C4 may also be 0, for a total of 0; at a firm with fewer than 25 PMETs, C3 and C4 default to 10 each, for a total of just 20 — either way far from 40.
Where to make up the points
C2 Qualifications — a top-tier degree gives 20 points, often the key make-up.
C3 Diversity / C4 Local employment — firm-related, not solely up to the applicant. Firms with fewer than 25 PMETs get a default 10 points on both C3 and C4 (20 in total), which favours small companies.
C5/C6 Bonus — a role on the Shortage Occupation List adds 20 points (C5; 10 if the candidate's nationality makes up one-third or more of the firm's PMETs), and a role in strategic economic priorities adds 10 (C6) (Source: MOM, verified 2026-09).
The benchmarks move every year. MOM releases a refreshed C1 salary benchmark table each August: it applies to new applications from 1 January of the following year, and to renewals of passes expiring from 1 July of that following year. So your percentile can fall even if your salary has not changed at all. Plan against the table in force when you file, not last year's figures. See renewing an EP.
Common misconceptions
Salary only affects C1 (max 20). Without qualification and firm points, a raise alone may not reach 40.
Percentiles vary by age and sector and MOM reviews them. The same salary can sit at different percentiles by age.
How we handle it
We estimate which percentile your C1 lands in by age, sector, qualifications and firm, and how far the total is from 40 and how to bridge it. See EP and legal pathway assessment; full scoring in the EP complete guide.
Frequently asked
Does hitting S$5,600 get me an EP?
No. That only makes you eligible for COMPASS scoring. You still need 40 points, and near the threshold C1 may be 0 in some sectors and age groups.
How high must salary be for C1 points?
10 points at the 65th percentile, 20 at the 90th, of local PMET pay for your age and sector. The dollar figure varies.
Can I pass without a high salary?
Yes — via qualifications (C2 top-tier 20), the firm (C3/C4) and bonus criteria (C5/C6 shortage roles).
Are small companies harder?
Not necessarily. Firms with fewer than 25 PMETs get a default 10 points on both C3 and C4, an advantage on those two criteria.
Sources: MOM (COMPASS C1 salary scoring, percentile benchmarks, minimum thresholds). Verified September 2026; percentiles and thresholds change — follow MOM's latest. General information, not immigration or legal advice.
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