WagePension Auto-Enrolment 2026-27
Auto-enrolment requires most employers to put eligible workers into a workplace pension and pay into it. The minimum total contribution is 8% of your qualifying earnings, made up of 3% from your employer and 5% from you, and it applies once you earn over the £10,000 enrolment trigger. Qualifying earnings are the slice of your pay between £6,240 and £50,270, so the contributions are calculated on that band rather than on your whole salary.
| Earnings trigger | £10,000 |
| Qualifying earnings band | £6,240 – £50,270 |
| Minimum total contribution | 8% |
| Minimum employer contribution | 3% |
| Minimum employee contribution | 5% |
Who gets enrolled
You are automatically enrolled once your earnings pass the £10,000 trigger, provided you meet the age conditions for the scheme. Below that level your employer does not have to enrol you, though you can usually ask to opt in.
Enrolment is automatic, but participation is not compulsory - you can opt out after being enrolled. If you opt out you give up the employer contribution, which is money paid on top of your salary, so the decision affects more than just your own 5% share.
How the minimum is calculated
The 8% minimum is worked out on qualifying earnings - the part of your pay between £6,240 and £50,270. Earnings below £6,240 and above £50,270 are left out of the calculation, so the contribution is based on a band, not your full gross pay.
Within that band, your employer must put in at least 3% and you put in at least 5%, adding up to the 8% total. Many employers contribute more than the minimum, and some calculate contributions on full salary rather than just the qualifying-earnings band, which increases the amount going in.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum auto-enrolment contribution?
8% of qualifying earnings in total - 3% from your employer and 5% from you - on the pay you earn between £6,240 and £50,270.
Do I have to stay in the scheme?
No. You are enrolled automatically once you earn over £10,000, but you can opt out. Doing so means losing the 3% employer contribution paid on top of your salary.
Is the contribution based on my whole salary?
The minimum is based on qualifying earnings - the band between £6,240 and £50,270 - not your entire pay, though some employers choose to calculate it on full salary.
General information, not advice. Estimates assume the standard 1257L tax code and typical circumstances; your payslip may differ by a pound or two because HMRC payroll software truncates at each step. Verify with HMRC or an accountant for any decision. WageReckon stores no salary data - the calculators run in your browser.
Rates for the 2026-27 tax year, current as of 24 July 2026. Source: HMRC (gov.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: HMRC / gov.uk. See how we calculate.