Employers How much should you contribute?

We have a range of contribution models designed to cater for the needs of different-sized employers.

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Contribution models

We can accommodate differing contribution models, ranging from the minimum qualifying percentages based on qualifying earnings, as well as models using differing percentages and pensionable earnings definitions. The legal minimums are:

Pensionable earnings Minimum employer contribution Worker contribution Total minimum contribution
Qualifying earnings 3% 5% 8%
Basic Earnings (min 85% of total earnings) 3% 5% 8%
Basic earnings 4% 5% 9%
Total Earnings 3% 4% 7%

Note: If your workplace chooses to pay more than the legal minimum, the amount the worker would need to contribute reduces. This legislation only applies to your workplace and the scheme. 

These are all earnings between a lower and upper limit set by the government and reviewed each year. Qualifying earnings include salary, wages, commission, bonuses, overtime, statutory sick pay and statutory parental leave pay (maternity, paternity and adoption pay).

For the 2025-2026 tax year the lower limit is £6,240 and the upper limit £50,270. A worker’s earnings below the lower limit or above the upper limit don’t count for working out auto enrolment contributions.

Qualifying earnings explained
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What are basic earnings?

These include basic pay, holiday pay and statutory pay such as sick pay or parental leave pay. They don’t include bonuses, commission, overtime and similar payments.

The whole of the worker’s basic earnings count for working out auto enrolment contributions.

You can choose to work out contributions in a way that meets one of three alternative sets of requirements. See The Pensions Regulator’s guidance on certifying schemes for more about this.

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What are total earnings?

These include all a worker’s earnings for that pay period including wages, commission, overtime, bonuses, performance-related pay and any other earnings.

Frequently asked questions

See all support for employers

A contribution model is a structure that defines how much the contributions to your workplace pension will be. It sets out what percentages of pensionable earnings – the pay used to work out pension contributions – the workplace and workers should each pay.

The contribution models we support range from a simple model that meets the minimum legal requirements, to more complicated models that include matching contributions.

Standard

The system will work out the contribution rates at the minimum level required by law, whichever pensionable earnings basis you choose. The rates are fixed. You can’t edit them.

Custom

The system will start by working out the contribution rates at the minimum level required by law, whichever pensionable earnings basis you choose. As long as you continue to meet the minimum level, you can edit the model by setting the worker and workplace contribution rates to the values you want.

The system will expect contributions for all eligible workers based on the model. If you want to change the rates in future, you’ll need to edit the model.

Matching

Again, the system will start by working out the contribution rates at the minimum level required by law, whichever pensionable earnings basis you choose.

Edit the model to set the worker contribution rate. You also need to set a maximum workplace contribution rate. Again, you need to continue to meet the minimum level required by law. The system will automatically set a workplace rate equal to the worker rate, up to the maximum you’ve set.

The system will expect contributions for all eligible workers based on the model. If you want to change the rates in future, you’ll need to edit the model. When you change your worker contribution rate, the system will automatically set the workplace rate equal to the new worker rate, up to the maximum you’ve set.

You can do this in now:u. Follow the steps in our guide to learn more.