The Central Provident Fund (CPF) is the cornerstone of Singapore's social security system, covering retirement savings, healthcare, and housing. Every working Singaporean and Permanent Resident contributes a portion of their monthly salary to CPF, and their employer contributes on top of that. But the rates are not straightforward — they vary by age, income level, and residency status, and they change periodically as government policy evolves.
This guide explains the CPF contribution rates for 2026, how contributions are split across the three accounts, and what this means for your take-home pay and retirement planning.
2026 CPF Contribution Rates by Age Group
CPF contributions are split between employee and employer, and the total rate decreases as you get older. For employees aged 55 and below — which covers the majority of the workforce — the combined contribution rate is 37% of ordinary wages (up to the monthly wage ceiling). Of this, the employee contributes 20% and the employer contributes 17%.
For employees aged 56 to 60, the combined rate drops to 29.5% (employee 15%, employer 14.5%). For those aged 61 to 65, the rate is 22% (employee 9.5%, employer 12.5%). For employees aged 66 to 70, the rate is 16.5% (employee 7.5%, employer 9%). And for those above 70, the combined rate is 12.5% (employee 5%, employer 7.5%).
These rates apply to ordinary wages up to the CPF Monthly Salary Ceiling of $6,800. Wages above this ceiling do not attract CPF contributions. There is also an Annual Salary Ceiling of $102,000 that caps total CPF contributions for the year, including additional wages such as bonuses.
To see exactly how CPF contributions affect your take-home pay, use our salary calculator. For a detailed breakdown of CPF specifically, try our CPF calculator.
How Contributions Are Split Across OA, SA, and MA
Your CPF contributions do not go into a single pot — they are allocated across three accounts, each with a different purpose and different withdrawal rules.
The Ordinary Account (OA) can be used for housing, education, CPF investment, and insurance. For employees aged 35 and below, 23% of wages goes to OA (out of the total 37%). This proportion decreases with age as more is directed to SA and MA.
The Special Account (SA) is exclusively for retirement and retirement-related financial products. It earns a higher interest rate (currently 4.05% per annum) than the OA (2.5%). For employees aged 35 and below, 6% goes to SA.
The MediSave Account (MA) is for healthcare expenses, MediShield Life premiums, and approved medical insurance. For employees aged 35 and below, 8% goes to MA.
As you age, the allocation shifts — less goes to OA and more goes to SA and MA, reflecting the government's policy of ensuring adequate retirement and healthcare savings as employees approach retirement age.
CPF and Your Take-Home Pay: A Real Example
Let us say you are 30 years old and earn a monthly salary of $6,000. Your employee CPF contribution is 20%, which is $1,200. Your employer contributes 17%, which is $1,020. Your take-home pay before income tax is $4,800.
Now consider someone earning $8,000 per month. Because the CPF Monthly Salary Ceiling is $6,800, CPF contributions are only calculated on $6,800 — not the full $8,000. The employee's CPF contribution is $1,360 (20% of $6,800), and the take-home pay is $6,640. The additional $1,200 above the ceiling goes directly into the employee's pocket without CPF deductions.
For high earners, the Annual Salary Ceiling of $102,000 is also relevant. If your total wages (including bonuses) exceed $102,000, CPF contributions for the year are capped. This mainly affects employees who receive large year-end bonuses. Use our bonus tax calculator to see how bonuses interact with CPF contributions.
Permanent Residents: Graduated Contribution Rates
Permanent Residents (PRs) have a graduated contribution schedule. In their first year of PR status, both employee and employer contributions are at reduced rates — typically 5% employee and 4% employer for the first year, and then 10% employee and 9% employer for the second year (under the graduated schedule). From the third year onwards, PRs contribute at the full citizen rates.
However, PRs and their employers can jointly opt for full CPF contribution rates from the first year of PR status. This is worth considering if you want to maximise your OA for housing purposes, as a larger OA balance gives you more options for an HDB flat or private property down payment.
CPF for Self-Employed Persons
Self-employed persons (SEPs) in Singapore are required to contribute to their MediSave Account, but contributions to OA and SA are voluntary. The mandatory MediSave contribution rate depends on your net trade income and age group.
For SEPs aged 55 and below with annual net trade income above $18,000, the MediSave contribution rate is 10.5% of income (subject to the MediSave contribution cap). SEPs earning between $6,000 and $18,000 pay a graduated rate. Below $6,000, no contribution is required.
If you are self-employed, making voluntary contributions to your OA and SA can be a tax-efficient strategy — voluntary CPF contributions qualify for tax relief. Model the impact using our self-employed tax calculator and CPF calculator.
Maximising Your CPF: Practical Tips
First, understand that CPF is not dead money — it earns guaranteed interest at rates well above most savings accounts. The OA earns 2.5% and the SA earns 4.05%, with an additional 1% on the first $60,000 of combined balances and an extra 1% on the first $20,000 for members aged 55 and above. These are risk-free, government-guaranteed returns.
Second, consider making voluntary top-ups to your SA or Retirement Account. You can top up to the Full Retirement Sum (FRS) and claim tax relief of up to $8,000 per year for topping up your own account and another $8,000 for topping up family members' accounts.
Third, be strategic about CPF investments. You can invest your OA funds through the CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS), but the evidence suggests that most CPFIS investors underperform the guaranteed OA interest rate. Unless you are a confident and disciplined investor, leaving your OA funds to earn the guaranteed 2.5% is often the better choice.
Use our salary calculator to understand your full compensation picture, and our tax reliefs calculator to see how CPF top-ups can reduce your income tax bill.