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Factually
Corrections and Clarifications

Does our Prime Minister get paid up to $4.5 million a year?

16 September 2018

Factually addresses inaccurate reports on Ministerial salaries.

Graphic overlay with 'FALSE' stamp on a post about Singapore ministerial pay, set against a dark keyboard and phone.

Falsehoods:

  • Falsehood #1: The Government is not upfront about how Ministerial salaries are calculated.

    Fact: This is false. The salary structure for Ministers is transparent and set out in a White Paper, which was tabled in Parliament in 2012. You can find the White Paper here. [PDF, 2.8MB] (opens in new tab)

The salary norm for an entry-level Minister (i.e., job grade MR4), including bonuses, is $1.1 million a year. This includes fixed and variable pay components which are linked to individual performance and national outcomes.

If the Minister doesn’t do well – and if the economy and other national outcomes do not do well – he/she may get well below $1.1 million.

Infographic explaining how a Singapore minister's salary is calculated, including fixed and variable components.

  • Falsehood #2: The Prime Minister is paid $2.2 million a year as a base salary, excluding bonuses. His annual salary is $4.5 million.

    Fact: This is false. The Prime Minister’s total norm salary is set at two times that of an entry level MR4 Minister, i.e., $2.2 million a year. This annual salary includes the monthly pay, 13th month bonus, Annual Variable Component and National Bonus, i.e., it includes bonuses.

This article is accurate as of February 2025.