UK Pension Contribution Calculator
Calculate employee and employer gross contributions on full salary or qualifying earnings, then project deposits under an assumed return.
Rule year: 2026/27 · GBP · Sources checked
Projected pension balance
Gross defined-contribution deposits only. Scheme percentages and basis must be checked with the provider; no entitlement to auto-enrolment, tax relief, annual allowance, carry-forward, tapered allowance or MPAA is assessed. Current qualifying limits are held constant for the projection; no fees, withdrawals or future pay rises.
Employee and employer deposits by year
Current contribution base held constant; month-end gross deposits. This is not an annual-allowance, tax-relief or pension-entitlement assessment.
| Year | Contributed capital | Projected balance |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | £10,000.00 | £10,000.00 |
| 1 | £12,700.80 | £13,262.15 |
| 2 | £15,401.60 | £16,687.40 |
| 3 | £18,102.40 | £20,283.92 |
| 4 | £20,803.20 | £24,060.27 |
| 5 | £23,504.00 | £28,025.43 |
| 6 | £26,204.80 | £32,188.85 |
| 7 | £28,905.60 | £36,560.44 |
| 8 | £31,606.40 | £41,150.61 |
| 9 | £34,307.20 | £45,970.29 |
| 10 | £37,008.00 | £51,030.95 |
| 11 | £39,708.80 | £56,344.64 |
| 12 | £42,409.60 | £61,924.02 |
| 13 | £45,110.40 | £67,782.37 |
| 14 | £47,811.20 | £73,933.64 |
| 15 | £50,512.00 | £80,392.47 |
| 16 | £53,212.80 | £87,174.24 |
| 17 | £55,913.60 | £94,295.10 |
| 18 | £58,614.40 | £101,772.01 |
| 19 | £61,315.20 | £109,622.75 |
| 20 | £64,016.00 | £117,866.04 |
For informational purposes only. This estimate is not financial advice, a tax return, a payroll calculation or a lender decision. See the supported circumstances and exclusions below.
How this calculator works
A percentage of qualifying earnings is not the same as a percentage of full salary. The qualifying-earnings illustration uses the reviewed 2026/27 lower and upper limits, while full-salary mode follows your scheme’s stated basis. Employee figures are gross contributions, before any scheme-specific relief or salary-sacrifice treatment. The projection deposits the combined annual amount in twelve month-end parts and holds salary and the earnings band constant.
Formula and rules
Qualifying base = max(0, min(salary, 50,270) − 6,240), or full salary when selected. Employee/employer deposits = chosen base × their percentage. Project the combined month-end deposits at the entered effective annual return.
Assumptions and limitations
Gross defined-contribution deposits only. Scheme percentages and basis must be checked with the provider; no entitlement to auto-enrolment, tax relief, annual allowance, carry-forward, tapered allowance or MPAA is assessed. Current qualifying limits are held constant for the projection; no fees, withdrawals or future pay rises.
Worked example
At £40,000 on qualifying earnings, the base is £33,760. A 5% gross employee contribution is £1,688 and a 3% employer contribution is £1,012.80 annually. At zero return, no opening balance and one year, the combined deposits give £2,700.80.
- Projected pension balance
- £2,700.80
- Annual employee gross contribution
- £1,688.00
- Annual employer contribution
- £1,012.80
- Contribution earnings base
- £33,760.00
Official sources and review
Reviewed against the sources below on 2026-10-06. Rates are held in versioned rule modules. Versioned rules, official source review and year-specific calculation tests.
- The Pensions Regulator: earnings thresholds ↗
2026/27 qualifying earnings £6,240–£50,270; trigger and eligibility are separate from a projection.
- GOV.UK: Workplace pension contributions ↗
Contribution bases and minimum scheme contributions; tax relief varies by arrangement.
Common questions
Why is the contribution smaller than salary times 5%?
Qualifying-earnings mode excludes earnings below the lower limit and above the upper limit. Choose Full salary only when that is your scheme’s actual basis.
Does the employee amount include tax relief?
It is the gross contribution entering the pension. The tool does not determine the cash deduction or relief method; these depend on your scheme.
Does the projection check the annual allowance?
No. Annual-allowance, taper, MPAA and carry-forward rules need additional personal information. This is a gross-contribution and growth illustration.