Singapore COMPASS Calculator (2026)
Score your Employment Pass application across all 6 COMPASS criteria. See your breakdown, identify weak areas, and get specific suggestions to strengthen your application before submitting.
Why this calculator vs. MOM's Self-Assessment Tool
MOM's official Self-Assessment Tool returns a binary pass/fail. This calculator shows the per-criterion breakdown, identifies which criteria you're losing points on, and tells you exactly which improvements would push you over the 40-point threshold. Useful for HR teams, immigration consultants, and applicants comparing offers.
EP Application Profile
info≥ $22,500 → automatic COMPASS exemption
Comparison to local PMET median in your sector
Highest formal qualification or recognised equivalent
Your nationality as a % of employer’s PMET workforce
Employer’s local PMET share vs sector average
Is your role on MOM’s Shortage Occupation List?
Employer in eligible MOM/EDB programme
Result updates as you type
COMPASS score
40
/ 40 to pass
✓ Pass — meets the 40-point threshold
Foundational
40/80
C1+C2+C3+C4
Bonus
0/30
C5+C6
Per-criterion breakdown
C1: Salary
Salary at sector median (+10 pts)
C2: Qualifications
Recognised degree from a non-top-tier institution (+10 pts)
C3: Diversity
Nationality forms 5–25% of employer’s PMET workforce (+10 pts)
C4: Support for Local Employment
Employer at sector average for local PMET share (+10 pts)
C5: Skills Bonus (Shortage Occupation List)
Role not on Shortage Occupation List
C6: Strategic Economic Priorities Bonus
Not in an eligible strategic programme
Based on MOM's published COMPASS scoring rubric. Salary above $22,500/mo grants automatic exemption. Score ≥80 grants criterion-floor waiver. Verify with MOM.
Quick Reference
- • Pass threshold: ≥ 40 points across all 6 criteria
- • Waiver threshold: ≥ 80 points (no individual criterion floor)
- • Auto-exemption: Fixed monthly salary ≥ $22,500
- • C1 Salary: 0/10/20 — vs sector median PMET wage
- • C2 Qualifications: 0/10/20 — degree, recognised, top-100
- • C3 Diversity: 0/10/20 — nationality % of employer's PMETs
- • C4 Local Employment: 0/10/20 — employer's local PMET share
- • C5 Skills Bonus: 0 or +20 — Shortage Occupation List role
- • C6 Strategic Bonus: 0 or +10 — eligible MOM/EDB programme
- • Effective: 1 Sep 2023 (new) / 1 Sep 2024 (renewals)
How COMPASS Scoring Works
COMPASS replaced the previous Employment Pass framework that relied solely on a salary minimum. The new system scores applicants across 6 criteria — 4 foundational and 2 bonuses — to assess both individual merit (C1, C2) and how the applicant complements Singapore's workforce (C3, C4) plus strategic value to the economy (C5, C6).
Worked example 1 — top-tier finance hire:a 32-year-old quant with PhD from MIT (top-100 = 20), earning S$15,000/mo at a global bank in financial services (likely top tertile = 20), French nationality at a US-headquartered firm where French is <5% of PMETs (20), employer above sector average for local PMETs (20). Foundational = 80 → automatic waiver. No bonuses needed.
Worked example 2 — borderline applicant rescued by C5: a software engineer with degree from a non-top-100 university (10), at-median salary (10), Indian national at an India-led firm (overrepresented = 0), employer at sector average (10) → 30 foundational. Add C5 because the role is on the Shortage Occupation List (+20) → total 50, passes.
Worked example 3 — auto-exemption:a S$25,000/mo senior leader is automatically exempt from COMPASS — the role's salary signals strategic value and high market positioning. No COMPASS scoring required, only the standard EP salary check (which is trivially met at this level).
4 Foundational Criteria
0–80 points
C1 Salary · C2 Qualifications · C3 Diversity · C4 Local Employment
2 Bonus Criteria
0–30 points
C5 Skills Bonus (SOL) · C6 Strategic Economic Priorities
Pass / Waiver / Exempt
40 / 80 / $22.5k
Pass = 40 pts · Waiver = 80 pts · Exempt = ≥$22,500/mo salary
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the COMPASS framework in Singapore?expand_more
COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) is Singapore's points-based system for Employment Pass eligibility, introduced by MOM in September 2023. Applicants score across 4 foundational criteria (salary, qualifications, diversity, support for local employment) and 2 bonus criteria (skills bonus, strategic economic priorities). The minimum qualifying score is 40 points.
What score do I need to pass COMPASS?expand_more
You need at least 40 points across the 6 criteria to pass COMPASS. Scoring 80 or more grants an automatic waiver — your application doesn't need to satisfy individual criterion floors. Applicants earning a fixed monthly salary of $22,500 or more are exempt from COMPASS entirely.
Who needs to pass COMPASS?expand_more
All Employment Pass applicants from September 2023 onwards must pass COMPASS, with limited exceptions (overseas postings under one month, applicants earning above the $22,500 salary exemption threshold). EP renewals from September 2024 also require COMPASS.
What is C1 salary in COMPASS?expand_more
C1 is the salary criterion. You score 0, 10, or 20 points based on your fixed monthly salary as a percentile against local PMET wages in your sector. Top tertile = 20 points, at sector median = 10 points, below median = 0 points.
What is the minimum salary for COMPASS?expand_more
COMPASS uses sector-specific salary benchmarks rather than a single threshold. However, all EP applicants must independently meet the EP minimum qualifying salary ($5,600 in most sectors, $6,200 in financial services for 2026, age-tiered up to $10,700+), which is separate from COMPASS scoring. The salary floor is a hard gate that COMPASS bonus points cannot override.
What if I fail COMPASS?expand_more
If you fail COMPASS (score below 40), the EP application is rejected. You can re-apply once the underlying criteria improve — for example, if your employer hires more local PMETs (raising C4), your salary increases (raising C1), or if your role qualifies for the Shortage Occupation List (C5 bonus, +20 points). Many borderline applicants strengthen weak foundational criteria via the bonus categories.
What is the difference between C1–C4 (foundational) and C5/C6 (bonus)?expand_more
C1–C4 are the four foundational criteria — every applicant scores 0/10/20 points each (max 80 foundational total). C5 (Skills Bonus, +20 for jobs on MOM's Shortage Occupation List) and C6 (Strategic Economic Priorities Bonus, +10) are bonuses that don't penalise low foundational scores. Total possible across all 6 criteria: 110 points.
When was COMPASS introduced and how often does it change?expand_more
COMPASS came into effect on 1 September 2023 for new EP applications, and 1 September 2024 for EP renewals. It replaced the previous EP eligibility framework that relied solely on minimum salary. MOM updates the salary benchmarks (C1) and the Shortage Occupation List (C5) periodically — check mom.gov.sg for the latest figures before applying.
Sources
- • MOM (mom.gov.sg) — Employment Pass eligibility and COMPASS framework documentation
- • MOM Annex A — COMPASS Scoring Rubric (Sept 2023)
- • MOM C2 List — Recognised degree-equivalent qualifications
- • MOM SOL — Shortage Occupation List for C5 Skills Bonus
Verified 2026-05-02. The Shortage Occupation List and salary benchmarks are revised periodically — verify with MOM before submitting an application.