[Visa] COMPASS Guide ② C1 Salary Benchmarks by Sector

Mastering COMPASS Series Part 1: The 6 Assessment Criteria | Part 2: C1 Salary Benchmarks (This post) | Part 3: C2 Qualifications | Part 4: Exemption Criteria

Quick Summary

Relative Evaluation: Your salary is compared against local PMET peers in the same sector and age group.

2026 Threshold Increase: Benchmarks for the 65th percentile will rise by an average of 5%, making it harder to qualify.

Sector Matters: A $9,000 salary could earn 10 points in IT but 0 points in Banking.

"How Does My Salary Rank?" The Core of COMPASS C1

For professionals working in Singapore, the COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) point system is currently the hottest topic. While Part 1 covered the overall six criteria, today we are diving deep into C1 (Salary), which carries significant weight and is often the most sensitive factor.

C1 is not a simple "pass/fail" based on an absolute figure. Instead, it is a relative evaluation that compares your salary against the distribution of local PMET (Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians) staff based on your Sector and Age.

90th Percentile or above: 20 points (Full marks!)
65th to below 90th Percentile: 10 points
Below 65th Percentile: 0 points

In short, your salary needs to be higher than your local peers to secure points. With the thresholds set to rise in 2026, those with upcoming renewals should pay close attention.

2026 Salary Benchmarks by Key Sector (Age 30)

Here are the 2026 benchmarks released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for major sectors where many expatriates are employed. (Based on Age 30, Fixed Monthly Salary)

Sector	10-Point Line (65th)	20-Point Line (90th)	Notes (Approx. KRW)
ICT	SGD 8,971	SGD 13,959	Developers, Data Analysts, etc. (approx. ₩10.16M)
Banking	SGD 11,251	SGD 17,401	Highest threshold (approx. ₩12.75M)
Professional Services	SGD 8,010	SGD 13,772	Consulting, Accounting, Law (approx. ₩9.07M)
Manufacturing	SGD 7,153	SGD 10,858	Semiconductors, Chemicals (approx. ₩8.10M)
Wholesale Trade	SGD 6,815	SGD 10,898	Trading professionals (approx. ₩7.72M)
Education	SGD 6,812	SGD 9,117	International schools, Edu services (approx. ₩7.72M)
F&B	SGD 4,829	SGD 7,524	Managerial level and above (approx. ₩5.47M)

As you can see, the gap between sectors is massive. A 30-year-old in Banking needs over $11,000 to earn 10 points, while those in F&B or Education can secure points with a significantly lower salary.

Rising Hurdles: Benchmarks by Age

A challenging aspect of COMPASS is that salary requirements rise sharply with age. MOM expects your market value to increase as you gain experience. Let’s compare the 65th percentile (10-point threshold) across three major sectors.

Minimum Monthly Salary for 10 Points (SGD)

Age	ICT	Banking	Prof. Services
25	6,460	7,400	5,454
30	8,971	11,251	8,010
35	10,960	14,103	9,949
40	12,175	16,064	11,285
45+	12,539	16,726	11,698

In the Banking sector, once you pass age 40, you need a monthly salary of over $16,000 (approx. $200k annually) just to get 10 points. However, don't be discouraged—if you can't get points in C1, you can still pass by scoring higher in other categories like Qualifications (C2) or Corporate Diversity (C3).

Real-Life Case: Same $9,000, Different Results?

To illustrate, let's look at two 30-year-old professionals both earning SGD 9,000:

Person A (Developer at an IT Startup): Since $9,000 is higher than the ICT 65th percentile ($8,971), they earn 10 points.
Person B (Back-office at a Global Bank): Since $9,000 is lower than the Banking 65th percentile ($11,251), they earn 0 points.

This shows how your company's SSIC code (Sector Classification) can determine your visa outcome. It is essential to check with your HR department to see which sector your company is registered under before applying for a renewal or switching jobs.

Key Takeaways for the 2026 Changes

The new 2026 benchmarks apply to all new applications and renewals submitted on or after January 1, 2026.

Definition of Salary: This refers to 'Fixed Monthly Salary.' It includes basic pay and fixed allowances but excludes bonuses or overtime pay.
The 5% Pressure: Thresholds have generally increased by about 5%. Someone who qualified for 10 points last year might get 0 points this year.
Use the SAT: The most accurate way to check is through MOM’s Self-Assessment Tool (SAT).

💡 Pro Tip! If you are short on points in C1, you should aim for points in C2 (Qualifications) or C4 (Shortage Occupation List Bonus), which we will cover in Part 3. You can also use these benchmark figures during salary negotiations to explain to your employer that a salary adjustment is necessary to maintain your visa status.

In Part 3, we will explore C2 Qualifications and answer the question: "Does my university qualify for points?" Stay tuned, and feel free to leave questions in the comments!