NS Pay Calculator (2026)

Following the 1 July 2025 allowance uplift, total monthly NS allowance (rank + minimum $75 vocation) ranges from $790 for a Recruit/Private to $1,530 for a 1st Lieutenant, with the full published range $790–$1,955 across rank and vocation tier. The exact amount depends on your rank and your vocation tier (Service/Technical $75, general combatants $225, Aircrew/Armour/Guards/Infantry $300, CBRE/EOD/Commando/Naval Diver $500). NSF pay is designed as an allowance, not a market-rate salary — meals, accommodation, uniforms, and basic medical care are all provided in-camp.

Higher ranks receive higher base allowances. Total monthly NS allowance (rank + minimum $75 vocation, effective 1 July 2025): Private (PTE) $790, Lance Corporal (LCP) $815, Corporal (CPL) $865, 3rd Sergeant (3SG) $1,130, 2nd Sergeant (2SG) $1,235, Officer Cadet (OCT) $1,085, 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) $1,340, 1st Lieutenant (LTA) $1,530. There is no published NSF allowance for Captain — the CMPB table ends at Lieutenant. Promotions during NS lead to pay increases. Higher vocation tiers (e.g. Naval Diver tier 4 at $500) add meaningfully on top.

Vocation allowances are additional monthly payments on top of your base rank allowance. Combat vocations (e.g., Infantry, Armour, Guards, Commando, Naval Diver) receive higher vocation allowances — broadly in the range of $175 to $500 extra per month — while service and admin vocations may receive lower or no vocation allowance. Hazardous and operationally demanding vocations typically receive the largest premiums.

Yes. NSmen (reservists) receive Service Pay and Make-Up Pay (MUP) from MINDEF during In-Camp Training (ICT) or mobilisation. Service Pay is based on rank (similar in structure to NSF allowance). Make-Up Pay tops this up to match the NSman’s civilian income for the period of service, subject to a salary cap published by MINDEF. NSF allowance, by contrast, is a flat rank-based monthly amount unrelated to civilian income.

NSF pay is designed as an allowance, not a living wage. Most NSFs live with their parents during NS, since meals and accommodation in-camp are provided free, transport is heavily subsidised, and free SAF medical care covers most healthcare needs. The allowance is intended to cover personal expenses on book-out days (transport, food outside, phone bill, entertainment). NSFs who need to support dependants or live independently typically face financial strain and may apply to the SAF/MINDEF Financial Assistance Scheme.

NSF allowance is credited monthly to a single designated bank account that the NSF nominates during enlistment (commonly a POSB account, since POSB is the SAF banking partner). To split your pay across accounts, you would need to set up standing instructions or recurring transfers from that primary account to other accounts after the monthly credit lands. MINDEF does not directly split-credit to multiple accounts.

Make-Up Pay (MUP) for NSmen on ICT is recomputed each cycle based on the NSman’s most recently declared civilian income (via the NS Portal or IRAS records). If your civilian income rises between cycles — for example after a promotion or job change — your MUP for the next ICT will reflect that higher income, subject to MINDEF’s salary cap. MUP can also be claimed by the employer (if the employer continues to pay full salary during ICT) or by the NSman (if the employer stops paying during ICT). Self-employed NSmen claim MUP based on declared trade income.

NSF allowance, NSman Service Pay, and Make-Up Pay are all tax-exempt under the Income Tax Act and do not attract CPF contributions. This is a deliberate policy to keep the full allowance amount in the hands of NSFs and NSmen. However, NSmen do qualify for NSman tax relief (separate from the pay itself) which reduces taxable civilian income.