Maid Salary in Singapore (2026): A Full Guide by Nationality and Experience

If you are budgeting for a domestic helper in Singapore, the first number you need is the monthly salary. In 2026, maid salaries in Singapore typically range from SGD 450 to SGD 900 or more per month, depending on the helper's nationality, experience, and whether she is a fresh hire or already working in Singapore. Singapore sets no statutory minimum salary for domestic helpers, but the helper's home country may set its own floor, and that affects what you pay in practice. This guide gives you the real 2026 figures by nationality, explains what moves the number up or down, and covers what sits on top of salary so your budget has no surprises.

How much does a maid cost per month in Singapore? (2026 salary table)

Salary by nationality at a glance

The table below shows 2026 monthly salary bands by nationality. Fresh means new to Singapore with little or no prior domestic work experience here. Experienced or transfer means she has a prior Singapore or overseas work history, or is already working in Singapore and looking to move to a new employer.

All figures are as of 2026. Salary is agreed between employer and helper and declared to MOM. All bands to be confirmed against live agency rate cards before publish.

What the table does not include

The salary figure is what you pay your helper directly each month. On top of that, you pay the government levy, mandatory insurance, and food and daily upkeep. Those are covered later in this guide. For the full first-year breakdown including agency fees, security bond, and airfare, see the cost of hiring a maid in Singapore guide.

Is there a minimum maid salary in Singapore?

No statutory minimum, but home-country floors apply

Singapore does not set a statutory minimum salary for migrant domestic workers. The salary is agreed directly between you and the helper and declared to the Ministry of Manpower when the work permit is applied for or renewed. There is no government-mandated floor on the Singapore side.

What does apply, in practice, is the floor set by the helper's home country.

The Philippines DMW floor and what it means for your budget

The Philippines' Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) mandates a minimum deployment salary of USD 500 per month, roughly SGD 650, for Filipino domestic workers deployed overseas. This rule applies regardless of which Singapore agency you use or how you arrange the hire. It is a Philippine government rule, not a Singapore one, but it is binding on every Filipino helper leaving the Philippines for work.

In practice, this means Filipino helpers have the highest starting salary of the main nationalities because the floor is set externally and enforced at the point of deployment.

Indonesia and Myanmar both set their own embassy minimums, which inform the starting bands in the table above. Sri Lanka has no government-mandated floor, so the market rate applies.

The short answer for employers: there is no minimum maid salary in Singapore set by Singapore law, but the nationality you choose determines the practical floor you are working with.

Maid salary by nationality, explained

Filipino maid salary

A Filipino helper starts from around SGD 650 per month in 2026, reflecting the Philippine DMW minimum. Experienced Filipino helpers commonly earn SGD 750 or more, and some command SGD 900 or above for strong English, caregiving certificates, or prior Singapore experience.

The main reason Filipino salaries sit at the higher end is English. Filipino helpers arrive already comfortable speaking English, which matters for families with school-age children, elderly parents who communicate in English, or households that need clear daily communication without a language gap.

For a full hiring breakdown, see the Filipino maid agency guide.

Indonesian maid salary

A fresh Indonesian helper typically starts from SGD 550 per month in 2026. Experienced helpers or transfers already in Singapore commonly earn from SGD 600 upward, with strong candidates reaching SGD 700 to 800.

Indonesian helpers make up one of the largest groups of domestic workers in Singapore, which means availability is generally good and wait times tend to be shorter than for smaller nationalities. The lower starting salary compared to Filipino helpers makes this a common choice for budget-conscious households.

For a full hiring breakdown, see the Indonesian maid agency guide.

Myanmar maid salary

A fresh Myanmar helper starts from around SGD 500 per month in 2026. Experienced or transfer helpers typically earn from SGD 600, with stronger candidates reaching SGD 700 to 800 depending on skills and prior experience.

Myanmar helpers are particularly well regarded for elderly care and infant care. Most come from a Buddhist background, which suits non-halal households, and some Sino-Burmese helpers speak Mandarin, which can be a practical fit for Chinese-speaking elderly in the household.

For a full hiring breakdown, see the Myanmar maid agency guide.

Indian maid salary

An Indian helper typically starts from around SGD 550 to 650 per month for a fresh hire in 2026. Experienced helpers or transfers with a verifiable Singapore or overseas work history commonly earn from SGD 650 to 850, depending on their background and skill set.

Public data on Indian helper salary bands is thinner than for other nationalities, so confirm the current going rate with your agency before finalising a budget.

Indian helpers are a popular choice for Indian households in Singapore, particularly for South Indian cooking, Tamil-language communication, and familiarity with South Asian household norms. For a full hiring breakdown, see the Indian maid agency guide.

Sri Lankan maid salary

A fresh Sri Lankan helper starts from around SGD 450 per month in 2026, the lowest entry point among the main nationalities. Experienced helpers or transfers typically start from SGD 550, with stronger candidates reaching SGD 700 to 900 depending on their last contract and skills.

Sri Lankan helpers are a smaller supply pool in Singapore but are a strong fit for Indian households, particularly for Tamil-speaking families and households with South Indian cooking requirements.

For a full hiring breakdown, see the Sri Lankan maid guide.

New, experienced, or transfer: how experience changes the salary

New (first-time) helper salary

A fresh helper is new to Singapore and arriving from her home country, usually after a pre-departure training programme. She starts at the lower end of the salary band for her nationality because she has little or no prior domestic work experience in Singapore.

The trade-off is training time. She will need to learn your home, your routines, and the way you like things done. For families with the time and patience to guide her through the first few weeks, this is the most cost-effective starting point.

Experienced helper salary

An experienced helper has worked in Singapore or abroad as a domestic worker before. She commands a higher salary, typically SGD 100 to 200 more per month than the fresh starting band for her nationality, because she comes with a verifiable work history and a shorter settling-in period.

For working couples or households with young children or elderly parents who need someone to take on responsibility quickly, the higher salary is often recovered in time and stability within the first few months.

Transfer maid salary (already in Singapore)

A transfer helper is already in Singapore on a valid work permit and is looking to move to a new employer. She is typically priced similarly to an experienced helper, starting from the experienced band for her nationality and negotiating from there based on her last contract and work history.

The practical advantages of a transfer hire are speed and lower upfront cost. There is no overseas airfare, no pre-departure medicals, and in most cases the Settling-In Programme has already been completed. She can often start within two to four weeks instead of the six to eight weeks a fresh overseas hire typically takes.

The trade-off is a smaller pool. Fewer helpers are available on transfer at any given time compared to fresh overseas placements. If a transfer helper is your likely route, filter for transfer status when you browse listings on SearchMaid.

Maid salary increments: what to pay after the first contract

Is an increment required?

No. Singapore does not legally require you to give your helper a salary increment at contract renewal. There is no law that mandates a raise after two years, and MOM does not set a minimum increment figure.

A fair increment after a two-year contract

That said, raising the salary after a two-year contract is common and widely regarded as fair market practice in Singapore. A helper who has completed two years, settled into your household, and performed well is worth more to you than she was on day one, and the market reflects that.

A modest monthly increase on renewal is the norm. A bump of SGD 30 to 100 per month is a reasonable range depending on performance, the scope of her role, and what comparable helpers are earning at the time of renewal.

Any new salary agreed at renewal must be re-declared to MOM when the work permit is renewed. Pay the updated amount from the new contract start date and update your salary records accordingly.

The full monthly cost beyond salary

Salary is the largest line in your monthly budget, but it is not the only one. Here is what sits on top of it.

The monthly levy

Every employer pays the Foreign Domestic Worker levy directly to MOM each month. This is not deducted from the helper's salary. It is a separate government charge on the employer.

The standard levy is SGD 300 per month. It drops to SGD 60 per month under the concessionary rate if your household has at least one of the following: a child aged 16 or below, a family member aged 67 or older, or a family member with disabilities.

If you employ a second helper, the levy for the second helper is SGD 450 per month at the standard rate.

The concession saves SGD 2,880 per year compared to the standard rate. Many families with young children or elderly parents qualify and do not apply. Check your eligibility before assuming the full SGD 300 applies.

Insurance, food, and living costs

MOM requires both medical insurance and personal accident insurance for every helper before she starts work. Combined mandatory maid insurance runs approximately SGD 200 to 400 per year.

Food and daily upkeep, including meals, transport such as an EZ-Link card, and incidentals, typically runs around SGD 270 to 400 per month depending on your household.

A realistic monthly total

Put it together and most households spend SGD 1,000 to 1,300 per month all in at the standard levy rate, covering salary, levy, insurance, and food and upkeep. Households on the concessionary levy spend noticeably less, often SGD 800 to 1,000 per month depending on the helper's salary band.

For a full first-year breakdown including agency fees, security bond, medical exam, airfare, and the Settling-In Programme, see the cost of hiring a maid in Singapore guide.

How to set a fair salary and stay MOM-compliant

The salary you and your helper agree on must be declared to MOM when the work permit is applied for or renewed. MOM requires the declared amount to match what is actually paid, so make sure the figure you submit reflects the real salary from day one.

Pay the full agreed salary on time each month. MOM requires employers to keep a written record of salary payment, acknowledged by the helper. A simple salary slip or signed acknowledgement each month is enough to stay compliant.

Note that the levy, the Settling-In Programme, and the medical exam are employer costs under MOM rules. These should not be deducted from your helper's salary.

If you adjust the salary at renewal, declare the updated amount to MOM and pay it from the new contract start date.

Ready to find the right helper for your home?

Now that you have the salary picture, the practical next step is comparing helpers who fit your budget and household needs.

SearchMaid brings together profiles from over 100 MOM-licensed agencies in one place. Filter by nationality, experience level, transfer status, and salary range, then connect directly with the agency that has the right helper for you. Every agency listed holds a valid Employment Agency licence from MOM. You can verify any agency at mom.gov.sg/ea-directory before reaching out.

Browse by nationality using the links below, or search across all nationalities at once on SearchMaid.

•        Filipino maid agencies

•        Myanmar maid agencies

•        Sri Lankan maid agencies

•        Indonesian maid agencies