Singapore Raises Ministerial Salaries for First Time in 15 Years

Singapore’s government has implemented a salary adjustment for ministers and other political officeholders—the first such change in 15 years. The country’s ministerial pay remains among the highest globally.

Revised Reference Salary Framework

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong described the revision as essential to attract talent into public service and sustain the government’s ability to recruit top candidates. Speaking before Parliament, Wong outlined a new benchmark structure: the annual reference salary for a minister at the lowest grade rises from S$1.1 million to S$1.8 million (approximately US$1.423 million), while the prime minister’s reference salary increases from S$2.2 million to S$3.6 million per year.

Phased Implementation for Incumbents

The government clarified that current ministers will not automatically move to the new reference levels. Instead, political officeholders will receive an exceptional increment of up to 9 percent effective 15 October, determined by individual performance, responsibilities, and the date of their last salary adjustment.

Under this arrangement, a minister at the lowest grade who receives the full 9 percent increase will earn approximately S$1.2 million annually in the initial phase—up from the current S$1.1 million—with no additional special increments planned to bridge the gap to the new reference ceiling of S$1.8 million.

Broadened Review Includes MPs

The revision forms part of a wider review of compensation for political officeholders. Parliamentary allowances for non-ministerial Members of Parliament will also rise.

Wong announced he will donate the full amount of his personal salary increase to charitable causes over the next five years.