# How big could your pension be? Pots by the age you start URL: https://computenow.co.uk/guides/pension-pots-by-age/ > What workplace pension saving could build by 67, by the age you start, at the minimum, 12% and 15% of salary, in today's money. This calculator shows a worked example below. To use your own figures, add them to the URL as query parameters (listed in https://computenow.co.uk/llms.txt), for example https://computenow.co.uk/guides/pension-pots-by-age/?=. [Data study](https://computenow.co.uk/guides/#loans) # How big could your pension be? Pots by the age you start We worked out what pension saving on a £35,000 salary could build by 67, depending on when you start and how much goes in. The figures are in today's money, so you can compare them with prices now. Published 18 October 2026UK By the ComputeNow team, checked against GOV.UK and HMRC[Sources (5)](#sources)[How we calculate](https://computenow.co.uk/methodology/) ## Key findings - **Starting at 22 on the minimum could build about £209,279** in today's money by 67; starting at 40 about £100,077. - **Paying 15% of your whole salary from 30 could build about £435,928**, against £155,022 on the minimum. - **The full new State Pension adds £12,548 a year** on top, if you have 35 qualifying years. - **These are projections, not promises**: real growth will be higher or lower. Work out your own Put in your own age, salary, pot and contributions, with your State Pension.[Open the pension calculator](https://computenow.co.uk/pension-calculator/) ## Questions and answers ### Why does starting early make so much difference? Money paid in at 22 has 45 years to grow; money paid in at 40 has 27. Growth compounds, so the early years can be worth more than the later ones even though your pay is lower. ### What does "today's money" mean? The pot is shrunk by 2% a year, the Bank of England's inflation target, so it shows what it would buy at today's prices. ### Is the minimum enough? That depends on what you will need, which no table can tell you. The minimum is 8% of pay between £6,240 and £50,270, which on £35,000 is less than 8% of your whole salary. ## Full results: pot at 67, in today's money | Start saving at | Minimum: 8% of qualifying earnings | 12% of whole salary | 15% of whole salary | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 22 | £209,279 | £511,000 | £638,750 | | 30 | £155,022 | £348,743 | £435,928 | | 40 | £100,077 | £201,853 | £252,317 | | 50 | £55,469 | £100,937 | £126,171 | Contributions include your share, tax relief and your employer's. You could usually take 25% of the pot tax-free. ## Methodology We used the same calculation as our [pension calculator](https://computenow.co.uk/pension-calculator/). Each person starts with no pension, earns £35,000 a year, and gets pay rises of 3.7% a year (ONS average earnings growth, August 2026). Contributions are paid at the end of each year on that year's pay. Investments grow at 5% a year, the FCA's middle projection rate, with no charges taken off; real pensions have charges, which lower the result. Pots are shown in today's money using the Bank of England's 2% inflation target. Everyone retires at 67. The State Pension figure is the full new State Pension for 2026/27. This guide explains the rules; it is not personal financial advice. ## Related [Pension calculator Your pension pot at retirement](https://computenow.co.uk/pension-calculator/)[The State Pension and your NI record What each qualifying year is worth](https://computenow.co.uk/guides/state-pension-and-your-ni-record/)[Investment and ISA calculator How investments could grow](https://computenow.co.uk/investment-calculator/) ## Guides and help ### Our guides [The State Pension and your NI record What each qualifying year is worth](https://computenow.co.uk/guides/state-pension-and-your-ni-record/)[Salary sacrifice explained Pensions, electric cars and what you save](https://computenow.co.uk/guides/salary-sacrifice-explained/) ### Official services and free advice [Workplace pensions GOV.UK: auto-enrolment and what your employer pays](https://www.gov.uk/workplace-pensions)[Check your State Pension forecast GOV.UK: how much and when](https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension)[Find a lost pension GOV.UK: trace old workplace and personal pensions](https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details) ## Article sources Each source was last checked on 18 October 2026. - [FCA: standard projection rates (COBS 13 Annex 2)](https://www.handbook.fca.org.uk/handbook/COBS/13/Annex2.html) - [ONS: Average weekly earnings growth](https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/timeseries/kac3/lms) - [Bank of England: inflation target and Bank Rate](https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/the-interest-rate-bank-rate) - [GOV.UK: Workplace pensions contributions](https://www.gov.uk/workplace-pensions/what-you-your-employer-and-the-government-pay) - [GOV.UK: The new State Pension](https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/what-youll-get) These results are an estimate, not financial advice. They use the 2026/27 rates in force on 24 October 2026 and the inputs shown, so your actual tax, pay or costs may differ. Before making a decision about your money, check the figures with HMRC or your provider, or speak to a regulated financial adviser. Free, impartial guidance is available from MoneyHelper. This page explains the rules using the 2026/27 rates in force on 24 October 2026. It is general information, not financial advice. For decisions about your own money, speak to a regulated financial adviser, or get free, impartial guidance from MoneyHelper.