Visible formula
Qualifying earnings are pay inside £6,240–£50,270. Employer minimum = 3% of that amount; total minimum = 8%.
2026/27 official thresholds · free CSV
What is the minimum workplace pension contribution at your salary?
Apply the current qualifying-earnings band to your annual pay, keep the employer share visible and compare the same statutory basis across salary levels.
Annual earnings trigger£10,000automatic-enrolment pay test
Qualifying band£6,240–£50,270common contribution basis
Statutory rates3% / 8%employer minimum / total minimum
Private calculator
Use your annual pay.
The pay field is used only in your browser. It is not saved or submitted. Being above the annual trigger is not the whole eligibility test: age, work location, pay period and worker status also matter.
Salary index
Minimums on the common qualifying-earnings basis.
“Employee + tax relief” is the remaining 5% element, not necessarily the cash deduction shown on a payslip.
| Annual pay | Pay test only | Qualifying earnings | Employer 3% | Employee + relief 5% | Total 8% | Monthly total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £6,240 | At or below lower band — ask-to-join route may apply | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| £8,000 | At or below trigger — opt-in route may apply | £1,760.00 | £52.80 | £88.00 | £140.80 | £11.73 |
| £10,000 | At or below trigger — opt-in route may apply | £3,760.00 | £112.80 | £188.00 | £300.80 | £25.07 |
| £12,000 | Above annual earnings trigger | £5,760.00 | £172.80 | £288.00 | £460.80 | £38.40 |
| £15,000 | Above annual earnings trigger | £8,760.00 | £262.80 | £438.00 | £700.80 | £58.40 |
| £20,000 | Above annual earnings trigger | £13,760.00 | £412.80 | £688.00 | £1,100.80 | £91.73 |
| £25,000 | Above annual earnings trigger | £18,760.00 | £562.80 | £938.00 | £1,500.80 | £125.07 |
| £30,000 | Above annual earnings trigger | £23,760.00 | £712.80 | £1,188.00 | £1,900.80 | £158.40 |
| £35,000 | Above annual earnings trigger | £28,760.00 | £862.80 | £1,438.00 | £2,300.80 | £191.73 |
| £40,000 | Above annual earnings trigger | £33,760.00 | £1,012.80 | £1,688.00 | £2,700.80 | £225.07 |
| £45,000 | Above annual earnings trigger | £38,760.00 | £1,162.80 | £1,938.00 | £3,100.80 | £258.40 |
| £50,000 | Above annual earnings trigger | £43,760.00 | £1,312.80 | £2,188.00 | £3,500.80 | £291.73 |
| £50,270 | Above annual earnings trigger | £44,030.00 | £1,320.90 | £2,201.50 | £3,522.40 | £293.53 |
| £60,000 | Above annual earnings trigger | £44,030.00 | £1,320.90 | £2,201.50 | £3,522.40 | £293.53 |
| £80,000 | Above annual earnings trigger | £44,030.00 | £1,320.90 | £2,201.50 | £3,522.40 | £293.53 |
Pay-frequency thresholds
Payroll tests the relevant pay period.
The annual figures are useful for comparison. Actual automatic-enrolment assessment is run against the relevant pay reference period.
| Pay period | Lower band | Earnings trigger | Upper band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | £6,240 | £10,000 | £50,270 |
| One week | £120 | £192 | £967 |
| Fortnight | £240 | £384 | £1,934 |
| Four weeks | £480 | £768 | £3,867 |
| One month | £520 | £833 | £4,189 |
| Quarter | £1,560 | £2,499 | £12,568 |
| Six months | £3,120 | £4,998 | £25,135 |
Method and limits
A statutory floor, not a retirement recommendation.
Scheme rules can differ
A scheme can use another certified pensionable-pay basis or contribute above the minimum. Use payroll and scheme documents for the actual deduction.
Relief is not one payslip method
Relief at source, net pay and salary sacrifice can show different cash deductions even where the gross pension input is similar.
Adequacy is separate
The legal minimum may not meet a person's retirement target. This page does not decide how much anyone should save, invest or transfer.
Primary sources
Check the current rule yourself.
DWP retained the £10,000 trigger and £6,240–£50,270 band for 2026/27. GOV.UK and The Pensions Regulator publish the 3% employer and 8% total statutory minimums and the pay-period table used here.
- DWP 2026/27 threshold review →
- The Pensions Regulator threshold table →
- GOV.UK contribution explanation →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Data and calculations were checked 17 September 2026.
Your actual scheme
Replace the minimum with your real percentages
Model a scheme's pensionable pay, employee rate, employer rate, relief assumption and extra contributions.
Open contribution planner →Understand the ruleRead how workplace pensions work
Cover eligibility, tax-relief methods, opting out, re-enrolment and what happens when you change jobs.
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