Auto-Enrolment Thresholds and Minimum Contributions
When employers must automatically enrol staff into a workplace pension, and the minimum that has to be paid in.
Auto-enrolment earnings trigger
£10,000
Workers aged 22 to State Pension age earning more than this must be enrolled automatically.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 30 Sep 2026
Qualifying earnings: lower limit
£6,240
Minimum contributions are usually worked out on earnings between the lower and upper limits, not the whole salary.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 30 Sep 2026
Minimum total contribution
8%
Includes the employer's share and the employee's contribution with tax relief.
The Pensions Regulator · checked 30 Sep 2026