Workplace Pension Calculator
Tax Year 2026/27
Estimate your workplace pension contributions
and see how much your employer could contribute.
How Our Workplace Pension Calculator Works
Our workplace pension calculator helps you estimate how much you and your employer may contribute to a workplace pension based on your salary and contribution rates.
Enter your annual salary together with the employee and employer contribution percentages. The calculator will estimate the pension contributions over the year and show how much may be added to your pension from both sources.
Workplace pension schemes can calculate contributions in different ways. Some employers use qualifying earnings, while others calculate contributions from your full salary. Salary sacrifice arrangements can also affect how pension contributions appear on your payslip.
Your employer may contribute more than the statutory minimum, and you may also choose to increase your own contribution. Higher contributions can increase the amount going into your pension but may reduce the amount of salary you receive as take-home pay.
Please note: WeFixPay provides pension estimates for guidance only. Your actual contributions depend on your employer’s pension scheme, contribution rules, pensionable earnings and individual circumstances.
Explore More UK Pay Calculators
Want to see how pension contributions affect your overall pay? Try our Salary Calculator, UK Tax Calculator and National Insurance Calculator for a wider breakdown of your earnings and deductions.
Workplace Pension Calculator FAQs
What is the minimum workplace pension contribution?
For most automatic-enrolment schemes, the total minimum contribution is 8%, with at least 3% coming from the employer. The remaining amount is normally made up by the employee and tax relief.
What are qualifying earnings?
For 2026/27, the standard qualifying earnings band runs from £6,240 to £50,270 a year. Many automatic-enrolment schemes calculate minimum contributions only on earnings within this band.
Does every employer use qualifying earnings?
No. Some workplace pension schemes calculate contributions using full salary or another definition of pensionable pay. Your employer or pension provider can confirm which method your scheme uses.
Can my employer contribute more than 3%?
Yes. Employers can contribute more than the minimum, and some pension schemes offer significantly higher employer contributions.
Does pension contribution reduce take-home pay?
Usually, yes. Employee pension contributions generally reduce the amount you receive as take-home pay, although the exact effect depends on whether the scheme uses relief at source, net pay or salary sacrifice.
Workplace Pension Contributions Explained
For most automatic-enrolment workplace pension schemes, minimum contributions are calculated using qualifying earnings rather than your entire salary. For the 2026/27 tax year, the standard qualifying earnings band is between £6,240 and £50,270 a year.
The minimum total contribution for most automatic-enrolment schemes is 8% of qualifying earnings. The employer must normally contribute at least 3%, while the remaining amount is usually made up through the employee contribution and applicable tax relief.
Some employers offer more generous pension schemes and may contribute substantially more than the minimum. Other schemes may calculate contributions using your full salary or a different definition of pensionable earnings instead of the standard qualifying earnings band.
Salary sacrifice can also change how workplace pension contributions affect your payslip. Under salary sacrifice, you agree to give up part of your salary and your employer pays that amount into your pension instead. Depending on your circumstances, this can affect Income Tax and National Insurance.
Our workplace pension calculator provides an estimate based on the salary and contribution percentages you enter. Always check your employer’s pension scheme documents or payslip for the contribution method that actually applies to you.
For official information, see the UK Government’s workplace pension contribution guidance.
Reviewing your workplace pension regularly can help you understand how much you and your employer are contributing toward retirement. If your salary or contribution rate changes, you can return to our workplace pension calculator to estimate the effect.