Singapore CPF Calculator: Employee Contribution from Wages
Work out the Singapore CPF (Central Provident Fund) employee contribution — the share deducted from an employee's wages — and the take-home portion, for Singapore's mandatory social-security savings scheme.
Adjust the inputs and select Calculate for a full breakdown.
Compare Common Scenarios
How the numbers shift across typical situations for this calculator:
| Scenario | CPF (employee share) | Take-home from wage |
|---|---|---|
| 20% of S$5,000 (S$1,000) | 1,000 | 4,000 |
| 20% of S$3,000 | 600 | 2,400 |
| 37% of S$5,000 (employee + employer) | 1,850 | 3,150 |
| 13% of S$6,000 (older age band) | 780 | 5,220 |
How This Calculator Works
Enter the employee CPF rate (20% for those aged 55 and below) and the gross monthly wage. The calculator returns the employee's CPF contribution. The employer also contributes separately (17% for the same age group), so total CPF for a younger worker is 37% of wages — but only the employee's 20% is deducted from take-home pay.
The Formula
Percentage of an Amount
Amount is the base value, Percentage is the rate applied to it
Worked Example
At the 20% employee rate on a S$5,000 monthly wage, the CPF employee contribution is S$1,000, leaving S$4,000 take-home (before tax). CPF is Singapore's comprehensive mandatory savings scheme covering retirement, healthcare, and housing. Contributions go into three accounts — Ordinary (housing, investment, education), Special (retirement), and MediSave (healthcare). For workers 55 and below, the employee contributes 20% and the employer 17% (37% total), with the percentages stepping down as employees get older.
Key Insight
CPF is far more than a pension — it's the backbone of Singapore's social security, funding retirement, healthcare, and housing, and the contribution structure has several important features. Total contributions for a younger worker (55 and below) are 37% of wages: 20% from the employee (deducted from pay) and 17% from the employer (on top of salary). These are allocated across three accounts: the Ordinary Account (OA) — usable for housing, approved investments, and education; the Special Account (SA) — for retirement, earning a higher interest rate; and MediSave (MA) — for healthcare and approved insurance. CPF balances earn government-guaranteed interest (the OA at a floor rate, the SA and MA higher, with extra interest on the first portion of balances), which compounds over a career. Two key caveats this simple calculation omits: contribution rates step down with age (the employee and employer percentages both reduce across older age bands), and contributions only apply up to the Ordinary Wage ceiling — wages above the monthly cap attract no further CPF, so high earners' CPF is limited to the ceiling (this calculator applies the rate to the wage entered without the cap). At retirement age, a portion is set aside as the Retirement Account (governed by the Basic/Full/Enhanced Retirement Sums) to provide monthly payouts via CPF LIFE. For employers, CPF is a major on-cost of hiring; for employees, it's forced savings with strong guaranteed returns but limited liquidity (mostly locked for housing, healthcare, and retirement). This calculator shows the employee's contribution on a given wage; for an exact figure, apply the age-appropriate rate to the lesser of your wage and the Ordinary Wage ceiling, and remember the employer adds its share on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the CPF employee contribution calculated?
Multiply the monthly wage by the employee CPF rate (20% for those aged 55 and below). On S$5,000, that's S$1,000 deducted, leaving S$4,000. The employer separately contributes 17% on top, so total CPF for a younger worker is 37% of wages.
Do CPF rates change with age?
Yes. The 20% employee / 17% employer split applies to workers aged 55 and below; both percentages step down across older age bands. So an older worker's CPF contribution is lower. This calculator uses the standard younger-worker employee rate — adjust the rate for your age band.
Is there a cap on CPF contributions?
Yes — CPF applies only up to the Ordinary Wage ceiling each month; wages above it attract no further CPF. So higher earners' CPF is limited to the ceiling, not their full salary. This calculator applies the rate to the wage you enter without the cap, so for high earners the real contribution is lower.
Where does my CPF money go?
Into three accounts: the Ordinary Account (housing, approved investments, education), the Special Account (retirement, higher interest), and MediSave (healthcare and approved insurance). Balances earn government-guaranteed interest that compounds, and at retirement a Retirement Account funds monthly payouts via CPF LIFE.
Can I use my CPF before retirement?
Partly — the Ordinary Account can fund housing (a major use in Singapore), approved investments, and education, and MediSave covers healthcare and certain insurance. But CPF is largely locked for these purposes and retirement, so it's forced savings with strong guaranteed returns but limited general liquidity.
Related Calculators
Methodology & Review
The contribution is the CPF employee rate applied to monthly wages; the remainder is wages net of the employee's CPF. CPF rates vary by age and are subject to a monthly wage ceiling; this models the standard younger-worker employee rate and does not apply the ceiling or the separate employer contribution.
Written by Ugo Candido · Last updated May 22, 2026.