Minimum wage in Singapore 2026: no general rate, SGD 1,800 LQS
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Singapore has no general statutory minimum wage in 2026. Instead, the Ministry of Manpower uses the Local Qualifying Salary (LQS), SGD 1,800 a month for full-time local staff at firms that hire Work Permit or S Pass holders, and sector Progressive Wage Model ladders, such as SGD 2,080 a month basic for General and Indoor Cleaners from July 1, 2026 (MOM, checked October 18, 2026). SGD 1,800 is about $1,407 a month at the ECB rate for October 16, 2026. For a citizen or permanent resident aged 55 or under, the employer adds 17% CPF, SGD 306 a month on the LQS.
The Local Qualifying Salary is the minimum a Singapore firm that employs Work Permit or S Pass holders must pay its local staff for them to count toward its foreign worker quota.
- National minimum wage
- Noneno statutory national rate
- How pay floors are set
- Singapore has no general statutory minimum wage
On this page
The Local Qualifying Salary
The LQS applies to citizens and permanent residents at companies that hire foreign workers on Work Permits or S Passes. It is SGD 1,800 a month for full-time staff (35 to 44 hours a week) and SGD 10.50 an hour for part-timers under 35 hours. It works through quota counting:
- Paid SGD 1,800 or more: counts as 1 local worker
- SGD 900 to under SGD 1,800: counts as half
- Under SGD 900: does not count
MOM's page does not say when the SGD 1,800 level took effect.
Other minimum wage rates in Singapore
| Rate | Amount | In USD | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Qualifying Salary (LQS), full-time local employee (35 to 44 hours a week) in firms that hire foreign workers | SGD 1,800 a month | about $1,407 | source | |
| Local Qualifying Salary (LQS), part-time local employee (under 35 hours a week) | SGD 10.50 an hour | about $8.21 | source | |
| Progressive Wage Model, cleaning sector Group 1 (office and commercial sites) General Cleaner and Indoor Cleaner, basic wage, 1 Jul 2026 to 30 Jun 2027 (Group 2 F&B General Cleaner same) | SGD 2,080 a month | about $1,626 | July 1, 2026 | source |
US dollar figures use exchange rates from the European Central Bank (Oct 16, 2026) and the US Treasury (quarter ended Sep 30, 2026), and move with the exchange rate.
Progressive Wage Model sectors
The PWM is a wage ladder tied to skills and productivity. It is mandatory in cleaning, security, landscaping maintenance, lift and escalator work, retail, food services and waste management, with occupational progressive wages for administrators and drivers (MOM, updated October 12, 2026). In cleaning, Group 1 General and Indoor Cleaners at office and commercial sites earn at least SGD 2,080 a month basic from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, rising to SGD 2,250 from July 1, 2027, an 8.2% step.
CPF on top of pay
CPF applies to citizens and permanent residents earning over SGD 750 a month. The employer rate is 17% up to age 55, then 16%, 12.5%, 9% and 7.5% in older age bands, on ordinary wages up to SGD 8,000 a month from January 1, 2026. Foreign employees have no CPF. The Skills Development Levy is extra.
- At the LQS: SGD 1,800 + 306 = SGD 2,106 a month, about $1,646
- At the cleaner PWM wage: SGD 2,080 + 353.60 = SGD 2,433.60
What residents actually earn
MOM's median gross monthly income from work for full-time employed residents, including employer CPF, was SGD 5,775 in June 2025, about $4,514, so most professional hires sit far above the LQS. See the Singapore average salary page.
Hiring in Singapore through an EOR
Published fees checked October 16, 2026 put an EOR at $99 (Native Teams, whose help center says EUR 99, starting price) to $699 (Oyster) per employee per month. Deel's $599 is about 36% of the $1,646 monthly cost at the LQS. For a median-paid hire the fee is far smaller in relative terms; test it in the calculator, then use our EOR scores, the Singapore hiring guide and the cost index. Regional rates: Malaysia, the Philippines and Hong Kong.
Frequently asked questions
Does Singapore have a minimum wage?
What was the Singapore minimum wage in 2025?
What is the Local Qualifying Salary in Singapore?
What is the minimum wage for cleaners in Singapore?
How much CPF does an employer pay in Singapore?
Sources (17)
- CPF Board: How much CPF contributions to pay (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- CPF Board: What is the Ordinary Wage ceiling (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- European Central Bank: Euro foreign exchange reference rates (rates for Oct 16, 2026)
- Deel: Deel pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Payoneer WFM (formerly Skuad): Skuad pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Oyster: Oyster pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Native Teams: Pricing (checked Oct 18, 2026)
- Native Teams: Pricing plans, features, benefits and how they work (help center) (checked Oct 18, 2026)
- MOM, Progressive Wage Model: MOM, Progressive Wage Model (checked October 18, 2026)
- MOM, Local Qualifying Salary: MOM, Local Qualifying Salary (checked October 18, 2026)
- MOM, PWM cleaning sector: MOM, PWM cleaning sector (checked October 18, 2026)
- MOM MRSD, Income summary table: MOM MRSD, Income summary table (checked October 18, 2026)
- MOM, public holidays: MOM, public holidays (checked October 18, 2026)
- MOM, maternity leave eligibility and entitlement: MOM, maternity leave eligibility and entitlement (checked October 18, 2026)
- MOM, paternity leave: MOM, paternity leave (checked October 18, 2026)
- MOM, sick leave eligibility and entitlement: MOM, sick leave eligibility and entitlement (checked October 18, 2026)
- MOM, annual leave eligibility and entitlement (via countries.csv): MOM, annual leave eligibility and entitlement (via countries.csv) (checked October 16, 2026)
This page is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Rules and rates change, so check the official source linked above before you file or sign a contract. Read our disclaimer.