Hire A Domestic Helper In Singapore 2026 | Maid Salary | Hiring An MDW | Best Home

Complete Guide to Employing a Domestic Helper in Singapore 2026

As we enter 2026, having a domestic helper at home in Singapore has transitioned from being a convenience to becoming, for many households, a necessity. There are approximately more than 300,000 actively employed domestic helpers in Singapore today. They are formally known as Migrant Domestic Workers (MDWs), but in everyday conversation, most families refer to them as maids. This number is expected to continue increasing as Singapore’s population ages and family structures evolve.

Singapore is moving rapidly towards becoming a super-aged society. By 2030, it is projected that around one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above. At the same time, more households are dual-income, and many families do not have available family support living nearby. These demographic and social shifts have made domestic helpers an essential pillar of home-based care, child-rearing, and household management.

Domestic helpers enable working parents to stay employed, support seniors to age in place, and provide stability in busy households. This comprehensive guide is written to help employers understand, plan, and make informed decisions when employing a domestic helper in Singapore in 2026, from assessing your family’s needs to selecting the right agency and helper, understanding costs, and ensuring long-term success.

1. Start by Analysing Your Household and Caregiving Needs

The first and most important step before hiring a domestic helper is to clearly analyse your household’s actual needs. A domestic helper is typically trained in housekeeping and basic caregiving, but it is increasingly unrealistic to expect one person to manage every household and caregiving responsibility without adequate support.

In modern Singapore, family needs are becoming more complex. Based on our 30 years of experience at Best Home Employment Agency, we have observed that mismatches and employment breakdowns occur because expectations are not aligned with reality.

For example, an elderly person with dementia often requires close supervision and constant engagement throughout the day. This can include assistance with toileting, feeding, medication reminders, and preventing wandering or unsafe behaviour. In such cases, a helper’s attention may be fully occupied by caregiving alone.

Similarly, an infant who is teething or waking frequently at night may require round-the-clock care. This can significantly affect a helper’s rest and energy levels, leaving little capacity for cooking, cleaning, or other household duties.

Active children or children with special needs can also demand a helper’s full attention throughout the day. Therapy routines, school transitions, behavioural supervision, and emotional support can take precedence over household chores.

It is important for families to sit down and list the key tasks required on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Ask yourself which tasks are essential, which are secondary, and whether it is fair and realistic for one helper to manage all of them alone.

In many cases, an increasing number of families benefit from supplementing a full-time domestic helper with part-time maid services or part-time caregivers. This hybrid approach helps prevent burnout, improves care quality, and creates a more sustainable working arrangement for everyone involved.

At the same time there are more families are hiring more than one full-time domestic helper, in order to fulfill their increasingly complex domestic care needs.

2. Assess Whether Your Home Has Proper Space for a Domestic Helper

Accommodation is one of the most critical and often overlooked aspects of employing a domestic helper in Singapore. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has clear requirements on suitable MDW accommodation arrangements, with privacy, modesty, and safety being the key principles.

Domestic helpers must be provided with a proper place to rest. This includes a clean, well-ventilated sleeping area, reasonable privacy, and a safe environment. Helpers are briefed on these standards during the Settling-In Programme (SIP) conducted under MOM upon their arrival in Singapore. In addition, many domestic helpers stay in close contact with friends and family members working in other households or overseas. Information about living conditions spreads quickly, and accommodation has become one of the first questions helpers ask during interviews with potential employers.

Increasingly, helpers are reluctant to accept job offers if they are required to sleep in common areas such as the living room. Even fewer are willing to sleep in confined or unsuitable spaces such as bomb shelters filled with household items, or small makeshift rooms.

As an experienced maid agency, we have observed firsthand that helpers who are given comfortable and dignified rest areas tend to be more settled, healthier, and more committed to their work. Proper rest directly impacts a helper’s emotional wellbeing, physical health, and long-term retention.

When planning to hire a domestic helper, employers should honestly assess whether their home can reasonably accommodate another adult with basic privacy and comfort. This consideration alone can make a significant difference in the success of the employment relationship.

3. Consider Your Finances in a Realistic and Holistic Manner

Employing a domestic helper is a long-term financial commitment. MOM has eligibility requirements that employers must meet, but beyond regulatory compliance, families should take a realistic and holistic view of the total cost involved.

The most obvious cost is the helper’s monthly basic salary. In addition to that, employers must budget for off-day compensation if the helper works on her rest days, as well as the monthly foreign domestic worker levy payable to MOM.

Beyond these, there are daily and incidental costs that are often underestimated. These include food expenses, toiletries, and daily necessities. If your helper is required to fetch children, accompany elderly family members, or run errands independently, transport allowances may also be necessary.

Medical expenses are another important consideration. Domestic helpers are human beings and may fall sick from time to time. While maid insurance policies are mandatory, many plans require co-payment or do not fully cover outpatient treatment such as flu, cough, or minor infections. Dental care is often excluded altogether, and procedures such as wisdom tooth extraction or root canal treatment can be costly.

Employers must also bear the cost of the compulsory six-monthly medical examination, which is usually done at General Practitioner clinics in Singapore. While the cost is relatively modest, it should still be factored into your annual budget.

There are also situational costs to consider. For example, when employers travel overseas and the domestic helper is unable to stay alone at home, families may arrange for her to stay at a lodging facility for domestic helpers. This provides safety and supervision but involves additional expense.

Ultimately, employing a domestic helper means taking responsibility for another person’s welfare. Having sufficient financial readiness ensures that the helper is well cared for and that the employment relationship remains stable and respectful.

4. Choose a Maid Agency or Employment Agency Wisely

Selecting the right maid agency is a critical step that can significantly affect your overall experience. A reputable and experienced agency does far more than simply introduce helpers to employers.

When evaluating maid agencies, employers should take a comprehensive view of the agency’s track record. Online reviews on platforms such as Google Reviews and Facebook can provide insight into service consistency, problem resolution, and after-sales support.

It is also highly advisable to visit the agency in person. Observing how staff interact with helpers, how cases are handled, and how transparent the processes are can give you a clearer picture of the agency’s professionalism.

A good maid agency should offer transparent pricing, reasonable guarantee periods, and clearly explained service packages. At Best Home Employment Agency, our package provides an unlimited number of replacement helpers within the first seven months, giving employers confidence and flexibility.

Other important considerations include proper accommodation arrangements for helpers under the agency’s care, transport services, clear dispute resolution procedures, and strong post-handover support. These elements can save employers significant time, stress, and unexpected costs in the future.

Service fees in the maid agency industry vary widely. Rather than focusing solely on the lowest fee, employers should evaluate the entire package. An agency with a higher upfront service fee may ultimately be more cost-effective if it provides comprehensive support and avoids repeated placement failures.

As with any professional service, quality matters. Choosing a maid agency should be a considered decision, not a rushed or purely price-driven one.

5. Decide on the Right Domestic Helper to Hire

Once you have selected a suitable agency, the next step is choosing the helper herself. It is important to avoid generalisations or stereotypes based on nationality. Every helper is an individual with her own personality, experience, strengths, and limitations.

Shortlisting should be done based on your household’s specific needs. Employers should always interview helpers directly, either in person at the agency or via video call. Do not rely solely on written profiles, phone calls, or agency recommendations.

A proper interview allows you to assess communication style, attitude, understanding of job scope, and compatibility with your family. Take your time and ask practical questions related to daily routines, caregiving experience, and expectations.

Avoid making rushed decisions. A well-matched placement is far more likely to succeed than one made under time pressure.

6. Estimated Domestic Helper Salaries in Singapore 2026

Singapore does not have a minimum wage for domestic helpers. Salaries are determined by market demand, experience, skill sets, and mutual agreement between employer and helper. Based on our industry observations in recent years, the following are general salary ranges:

New Myanmar Domestic Helpers: SGD 500 and above

Experienced Myanmar Domestic Helpers: SGD 580 and above

New Mizoram Domestic Helpers: SGD 540 and above

Experienced Mizoram Domestic Helpers: SGD 600 and above

New Indonesian Domestic Helpers: SGD 600 and above

Experienced Indonesian Domestic Helpers: SGD 680 and above

New Filipina Domestic Helpers: SGD 650 and above

Experienced Filipina Domestic Helpers: SGD 750 and above

Helpers with special skill sets, professional caregiving training, or the ability to speak multiple languages typically command higher salaries. While salaries in Singapore have been gradually increasing, they remain lower than those in countries such as Hong Kong or Taiwan.

It is also important to note that Filipina domestic helpers are subject to a global minimum salary requirement of at least USD 500, which is approximately SGD 650. This policy was implemented by the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers in the last quarter of 2025 and applies worldwide.

7. Careful Consideration and Planning Is Required When Employing A Migrant Domestic Worker

To summarise, employing a domestic helper in Singapore requires thoughtful planning and responsible decision-making. Employers should clearly assess household needs, ensure proper accommodation, prepare financially, select a reputable agency, conduct thorough interviews, and understand prevailing salary expectations.

When these foundations are in place, the employment relationship is far more likely to be stable, respectful, and successful for both employer and helper.

Why Choose Best Home Employment Agency

Best Home Employment Agency brings over 30 years of experience in the Singapore maid agency industry. We specialise in both full-time and part-time maid services, offering tailored solutions for families with diverse and evolving needs.

Our services include personalised matching, transparent fee structures, comprehensive helper training programs, strong post-placement support, and supportive guidance throughout the employment journey. We are proud to have been awarded the Singapore SME 500 Award for 2025, recognising our excellence, reliability, and industry leadership.

Whether you require a full-time live-in helper, part-time maid services, our experienced consultants work closely with you to design practical and sustainable solutions.

For Peace of Mind, Let Best Home Settle Your Domestic Needs

Employing a domestic helper is not just an administrative process. It is a commitment to another human being and a partnership that supports your family’s daily life.

With the right guidance and professional support, this partnership can be a positive and rewarding experience.

For peace of mind and long-term confidence, allow Best Home Employment Agency to handle your domestic needs with care, professionalism, and integrity today.