Overtime Pay (MOM) in Singapore: Your Questions Answered
These are the questions people ask most often about overtime pay (mom). Each answer is short; follow the links for the full detail.
What does a overtime pay (mom) calculation tell me?
Uses the Ministry of Manpower formula to work out the hourly basic rate and overtime pay for employees covered by Part IV of the Employment Act.
What is the formula?
Hourly basic rate = (12 × monthly basic salary) ÷ (52 × 44). Overtime pay = 1.5 × hourly rate × overtime hours.
What do I need to enter?
Monthly basic salary (S$), Overtime hours worked.
Who is entitled to overtime pay?
Under Part IV of the Employment Act: workmen earning up to S$4,500 basic a month and non-workmen earning up to S$2,600. Others depend on their contract.
Is there a cap on overtime hours?
Yes, generally 72 hours a month for employees covered by Part IV.
Are these figures exact?
They follow the published CPF and MOM formulas, but your employer's payroll may round slightly differently or include allowances in a different way. Your payslip is the final reference.
Can you show an example?
For example, with these inputs:
- Monthly basic salary (S$): 2,400
- Overtime hours worked: 20
the calculator returns:
- Hourly basic rate: S$12.59
- Overtime rate (1.5×): S$18.88
- Overtime pay: S$377.62
Any tips?
- CPF rates drop in steps after age 55, so check which age band applies from the month after your birthday.
- If you change jobs mid-year, the Additional Wage ceiling is calculated across all employers for the calendar year.
- First- and second-year PRs contribute at graduated rates unless they opt in to full rates, so their figures will be lower.
Background
The Central Provident Fund is Singapore's mandatory savings scheme for citizens and permanent residents. Contributions are shared between employee and employer and flow into the Ordinary Account for housing, education and investment, the Special Account for retirement, and MediSave for healthcare. Because the money is locked up for specific purposes, many people underestimate how much of their total pay it represents.
Total compensation in Singapore is more than the number on your offer letter. Employer CPF, variable bonuses, the Annual Wage Supplement (often called the 13th month) and benefits all add value, and comparing offers on take-home pay alone can hide meaningful differences.
Payslips must be itemised, showing basic pay, allowances, overtime, deductions and CPF. Comparing a payslip against an independent calculation is the easiest way to catch mistakes, especially in the first month of a new job, after a pay rise, or when you cross an age band.
Related calculations
- Salary Increment Calculator: Shows the new salary after a percentage raise and how much more you earn per year.
- Pro-Rated Annual Leave Calculator: Calculates leave earned for part of a year.
- Salary Converter (Annual, Monthly, Hourly): Converts an annual package into monthly, weekly, daily and hourly figures.
- CPF OA Interest Calculator: Projects your CPF Ordinary Account balance with the 2.5% floor rate and regular contributions.
Try it yourself with the Overtime Pay Calculator (MOM).
Run your own numbers: Overtime Pay Calculator (MOM)