By MoneyBees
Compare a full-time job with freelancing or delivery and ride-hail work on the same gross pay: CPF from both sides, MediSave as a self-employed person, tax on each and the paid days off you give up, and the rate you need to charge to match the job.
MOM minimum: 7, up to 14.
Insurance, allowances, a year.
Software, fuel, equipment.
Job: pay, CPF and benefits
$69,160
incl. $10,200 employer CPF
Freelance: cash and CPF
$58,456
$10,704 less than the job
To match the job, bill
$71,441
a year, or $304 a day over 235 days
The job pays $60,000. You pay $12,000 in CPF and $1,040 in tax and take home $46,960. Your employer adds $10,200 of CPF on top, and pays you for 14 days of leave and 11 public holidays.
Freelancing on $60,000, your net trade income is $60,000. You pay $4,800 into MediSave, which is all the CPF a self-employed person must pay, and $1,544 in tax. You keep $53,656 in cash. Nobody adds employer CPF, and days you do not work earn nothing.
To end up with the same cash and CPF as the job, you need to bring in about $71,441 a year. Take the same 14 days off plus public holidays and that is $304 for each of 235 working days.
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| Employee | Freelancer | Platform worker | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPF you pay | 20% up to 55, less from 55 | MediSave only, 4% to 10.5% of net trade income | 13% to 5.5% of net earnings by age |
| CPF someone else pays | Employer 17% up to 55 | None | Operator 7% |
| Paid annual leave | 7 days in year 1, up to 14 | None | None |
| Paid sick leave | 14 days, 60 in hospital | None | None |
| Paid public holidays | 11 a year | None | None |
| Expenses for tax | Employment expenses only | Actual business expenses | Actual, or a deemed 20%, 35% or 60% |
Employee leave figures are Employment Act minimums after 3 months' service. Platform worker rates are for those born in or after 1995, or who opted in, earning above S$750 a month. For tax, the deemed ratio for delivery work only applies if your gross delivery income is S$50,000 a year or less.
| Age | Worker | Operator | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 and below | 13% | 7% | 20% |
| Above 35 to 45 | 14% | 7% | 21% |
| Above 45 to 50 | 15% | 7% | 22% |
| Above 50 to 55 | 15.5% | 7% | 22.5% |
| Above 55 to 60 | 15.5% | 7% | 22.5% |
| Above 60 to 65 | 12.5% | 7% | 19.5% |
| Above 65 to 70 | 9.5% | 7% | 16.5% |
| Above 70 | 5.5% | 7% | 12.5% |
Rates rise each year to 2029 until they match employee and employer rates. Workers born before 1995 who did not opt in pay MediSave only. In 2026, CPF's transition support offsets 75% of the increase for workers earning up to S$3,000 a month; it is not included here.
At 30, a S$5,000 job pays S$60,000. You pay S$12,000 CPF and S$1,040 tax, and your employer adds S$10,200 of CPF: S$69,160 in cash and CPF. Freelancing on the same S$60,000 with no costs, you pay S$4,800 MediSave and S$1,544 tax: S$58,456. That is S$10,704 less. To match the job you would bill about S$71,441 a year, S$304 a day over 235 working days.
Figures checked 3 Oct 2026.
Self-employed persons must pay MediSave, not full CPF, once their net trade income is above S$6,000 a year. In 2026 the rate is 4% to 10.5% depending on age and income, up to a maximum based on S$96,000 of net trade income. They can choose to top up the other CPF accounts.
Enough to replace employer CPF, paid leave and any benefits. On a S$5,000 a month job at 30, a freelancer with no costs needs to bill about S$71,400 a year, not S$60,000, to end with the same cash and CPF. That is about S$304 a day over 235 working days.
Platform workers born in or after 1995, or who opted in, pay 13% to 5.5% of net earnings by age, and the platform operator adds 7%, on monthly net earnings above S$750. Net earnings are gross less a deemed expense of 60% for a car, 35% for a motorcycle or PMD and 20% on foot or by bicycle.
No. Paid annual leave of 7 to 14 days, paid sick leave of 14 days (60 in hospital) and 11 paid public holidays are Employment Act rights for employees. A freelancer earns nothing on days they do not work.
As part of your personal income at the resident rates. You are taxed on net trade income: what you billed less allowable business expenses. Mandatory MediSave as a self-employed person gets full tax relief.
Only some groups can. Private hire and taxi drivers can claim 60% of gross driving income. Delivery workers can claim 20%, 35% or 60% by vehicle if gross delivery income is S$50,000 or less. Commission agents with total income of S$50,000 or less can claim 25%. Other freelancers claim their actual expenses.
Yes. IRAS gives relief on your own share of mandatory CPF, and the operator's share is not taxable. Workers who are not covered and did not opt in get the same relief as self-employed persons.
These calculators provide general estimates for educational purposes only and are not personalised financial advice. Results may rely on rates and rules that change over time, so verify against official sources (IRAS, CPF Board, HDB, MAS) or consult a licensed financial adviser before making decisions.
Junxiong-WFG Organisation is an authorised representative of AIA Financial Advisers Private Limited (Reg. No. 201715016G).