Contributions | CERN Pension Fund

As an employed member of the CERN personnel (fellow or staff) or ESO personnel (fellow or staff, subject to the conditions specified in the CERN/ESO Agreement), you will automatically join the Fund, as membership is compulsory. Your contribution is automatically deducted from your monthly salary.

As a CERN/ESO staff member or ESO fellow, contributions are based on your monthly CHF reference salary and calculated using the following rates:

a) If you joined the Fund on or before 31 December 2011:

Member: 11.33%
Organisation: 22.67%

b) If you joined the Fund on or after 1 January 2012:

Member: 12.64%
Organisation: 18.96%

As a CERN fellow, your contributions are based on a fixed reference salary of 6 291 CHF and calculated using the rates above.

As a CERN graduate, your contributions are based on a fixed reference salary of 5 679 CHF and calculated using the rates above

To find out more…

FAQ

How can I calculate my reference salary?

As an employed member of the CERN/ESO personnel, the reference salary is: basic salary for 40 hours per week multiplied by the applicable C factor.

If you are a CERN fellow (junior or senior), the reference salary is: 4722 CHF multiplied by the applicable C factor, which is 1.3322.

If you are a CERN GRAD, the reference salary is: 4263 CHF multiplied by the applicable C factor, which is 1.3322.

Where can I find my C Factor?

You can find it on the “C Factor calculator” webpage or in Annex A of the CERN Pension Fund Rules and Regulations

How is my contribution to the Fund calculated?

As a CERN/ESO staff member or ESO fellow, contributions are based on your monthly CHF reference salary and calculated using the following rates:

a) If you joined the Fund on or before 31 December 2011:

o Member: 11.33%

o Organisation: 22.67%

b) If you joined the Fund on or after 1 January 2012:

o Member: 12.64%

o Organisation: 18.96%

As a CERN fellow, your contributions are based on a fixed reference salary of 6291 CHF and calculated using the rates above.

As a CERN GRAD, your contributions are based on a fixed reference salary of 5679 CHF and calculated using the rates above.

Where can I find my CHF reference salary?

As a member of the CERN personnel, your reference salary can be found on your payslip under “CONTRIB. PENSION”.

As a member of the ESO personnel, you can calculate your reference salary using the data provided on your payslip under “Pension CERN” (basic salary in CHF x C factor).

Can I increase or decrease my contributions or stop contributing to the Fund?

The contribution rates are defined in the CERN Pension Fund Rules and Regulations. Only in certain cases (such as unpaid special leave, parental leave, part-time work, etc.) will you have the option to suspend or reduce your contributions.