State of Domestic Helper Salaries in Singapore 2026: Mid-Year Edition
Helpers placed by We Are Caring in Singapore earned an average basic salary of SGD 880 a month in 2025 and SGD 865 in the first half of 2026, across 4,681 placements from January 2022 to June 2026. Transfer helpers earned more than helpers hired from abroad, Filipino helpers more than other nationalities, and pay was higher for helpers who had worked in Singapore before.
By David Bensadon, Founder and Managing Director · EA personnel reg. no. R1552212
Published 1 November 2026 · Data January 2022 to June 2026 · 5 min read
1. Salaries rose from 2022 to 2025; for transfer helpers they held in 2026
The average basic salary of helpers placed by We Are Caring rose from SGD 860 in 2022 to SGD 880 in 2025. Transfer helpers drove the rise: their average went from SGD 858 to SGD 912 over the same years, and stayed at SGD 911 in the first half of 2026. Helpers hired from abroad averaged SGD 873 in 2022, then between SGD 757 and SGD 770 from 2024.
The overall average was lower in the first half of 2026, at SGD 865, because more helpers were hired from abroad: 32% of placements, up from 22% in the first half of 2025.
| Period | Placements | Average (SGD) | Median (SGD) | Transfer helpers (SGD) | Hired from abroad (SGD) | Share hired from abroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,174 | 860 | 850 | 858 | 873 | 17% |
| 2023 | 963 | 869 | 850 | 870 | 860 | 11% |
| 2024 | 1,026 | 864 | 850 | 886 | 757 | 17% |
| 2025 | 1,024 | 880 | 900 | 912 | 770 | 22% |
| 2026, January to June | 494 | 865 | 850 | 911 | 765 | 32% |
2. Salaries differ most by nationality
Filipino helpers placed by We Are Caring averaged SGD 886 a month from January 2022 to June 2026, Sri Lankan helpers SGD 852, Indonesian helpers SGD 828, Indian helpers SGD 822 and Burmese helpers SGD 702. Filipino helpers' average rose from SGD 871 in 2022 to SGD 913 in 2025.
| Nationality | Placements | Average (SGD) | Median (SGD) | Middle 50% range (SGD) | Share of transfers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filipino | 3,625 | 886 | 900 | 800–950 | 83% |
| Sri Lankan | 60 | 852 | 850 | 750–900 | 95% |
| Indonesian | 758 | 828 | 804 | 750–900 | 82% |
| Indian | 32 | 822 | 785 | 738–950 | 78% |
| Burmese | 203 | 702 | 700 | 600–800 | 58% |
Sri Lankan and Indian helpers are few in this data, so their figures move more from year to year.
3. Transfer helpers earned SGD 82 more a month
Helpers already working in Singapore averaged SGD 883 a month, against SGD 801 for helpers hired from their home country. The gap was SGD 56 for Filipino helpers, SGD 127 for Indonesian helpers and SGD 141 for Burmese helpers. Helpers hired from abroad are not necessarily new to Singapore: 65% of them had worked here before.
| Nationality | Transfer (SGD) | Hired from abroad (SGD) | Difference (SGD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nationalities | 883 | 801 | 82 |
| Filipino | 896 | 840 | 56 |
| Indonesian | 850 | 723 | 127 |
| Burmese | 761 | 620 | 141 |
4. Experience in Singapore matters most for Indonesian and Burmese helpers
Helpers who had worked in Singapore before averaged SGD 872 a month, against SGD 806 for helpers taking their first job here. For Filipino helpers the difference was SGD 22. For Indonesian helpers it was SGD 212, and for Burmese helpers SGD 187.
| Nationality | Worked in Singapore before (SGD) | First job in Singapore (SGD) | Difference (SGD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nationalities | 872 | 806 | 66 |
| Filipino | 887 | 865 | 22 |
| Indonesian | 834 | 622 | 212 |
| Burmese | 739 | 552 | 187 |
First-time helpers are a small part of this data: 304 placements, 240 of them Filipino.
5. Pay differs by age group
Helpers aged 50 and above placed by We Are Caring averaged SGD 922 a month, and those aged 40 to 49 SGD 897. Helpers aged 30 to 39 averaged SGD 848, and those aged 23 to 29 SGD 726. The youngest group also had the fewest helpers who had worked in Singapore before: 74%, against 94% to 96% in the older groups.
| Age group | Placements | Average (SGD) | Median (SGD) | Worked in Singapore before |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 to 29 | 294 | 726 | 736 | 74% |
| 30 to 39 | 1,986 | 848 | 850 | 94% |
| 40 to 49 | 2,027 | 897 | 900 | 96% |
| 50 and above | 374 | 922 | 900 | 95% |
What this means for families
- The salary is agreed between you and your helper. Singapore does not set a minimum salary for domestic helpers. These figures show what was paid, not what anyone should pay.
- Half of salaries fall in a narrow band. Half of the transfer helpers placed by We Are Caring earned between SGD 800 and SGD 950 a month; half of the helpers hired from abroad between SGD 650 and SGD 850.
- The salary is one part of the monthly cost. The levy, food, insurance and other costs come on top; the Costs page lists them.
- For a figure closer to your situation, filter by nationality, experience, hiring type and age group in the explorer.
What this means for helpers
- Work in Singapore was reflected in pay. Helpers who had worked here before averaged SGD 66 more a month than helpers in their first job here, and transfer helpers SGD 82 more than helpers hired from abroad.
- You can see what helpers like you were paid. The explorer shows the average and the middle range for your nationality, experience and age group.
- Helpers placed by We Are Caring pay no placement fees and have no salary deductions, so the salary agreed is the salary received.
What this data covers, and what it does not
This report covers 4,681 helper placements in Singapore handled by We Are Caring from January 2022 to June 2026. It is one agency's data, not a survey of all helpers in Singapore, and it shows differences between groups, not their causes. Salary means the basic monthly salary agreed at placement. The methodology explains every definition and calculation.
Cite this report
The figures and tables in this report are published under CC BY 4.0: you may reuse them, including commercially, as long as you credit We Are Caring.
Cite as: David Bensadon (2026). State of Domestic Helper Salaries in Singapore 2026: mid-year edition. We Are Caring. wearecaring.com/sg/en/salary-report/2026. CC BY 4.0.
Copy citation · Press and data questions: David Bensadon (EA personnel reg. no. R1552212), david@wearecaring.com
Next edition: January 2027, adding July to December 2026.
