Which staff must I put in a workplace pension?
List your staff and we'll sort them into who you must put in a workplace pension, who can ask to join, and who you needn't pay for, with the least you must pay in.
Your answer
List your staff, one per line, to see who you must put in a workplace pension.
About this calculator
For employers with staff in Great Britain. Every employer must put some staff into a workplace pension and pay in for them (automatic enrolment). This sorts each person into one of three groups, adds up the least you and they must pay in, and gives the dates you must meet.
It works on the pay for one pay day, as the law does, so someone paid monthly is tested against the monthly levels. It assumes their pay is the same every pay day. It doesn't choose a pension scheme for you or give pension advice.
What happens to your answers
We don’t keep them. Your answers go to our server to do the sums and aren’t stored or logged. If you copy a link to your answers, they’re in the link itself, so only share it with people you trust.
How it’s worked out
You must put in anyone aged 22 to State Pension age who earns over £10,000 a year (£833 a month, £192 a week). Anyone aged 16 to 74 who earns over £6,240 a year (£520 a month, £120 a week) and isn't in that group can ask to join, and you then pay in too. Anyone aged 16 to 74 who earns less can ask to join, but you needn't pay in.
You pay at least 3% of the pay between £6,240 and £50,270 a year (qualifying earnings), worked out for each pay day, and at least 8% must go in altogether: usually 5% from the worker, including their tax relief. You have 6 weeks from the day someone qualifies to put them in and write to them, and 5 months from the day your duties began to send a declaration of compliance to The Pensions Regulator.
Worked example
You must put 1 of your 4 staff in a workplace pension, and pay in at least £568.80 a year for them.
2026/27 tax year · pay the same every pay day · the legal minimum on qualifying earnings · staff are employees working in Great Britain (Northern Ireland's rules match)
| Staff on your list | 4 |
|---|---|
| Sam, 34, paid £2,100 a month: must be put in. Pay that counts £1,580 (£2,100 − £520); you pay 3%, £47.40 a month, 8% in all £126.40 | £568.80 a year |
| Alex, 19, paid £450 a week: can ask to join, and you then pay in. Pay that counts £330 (£450 − £120); you pay 3%, £9.90 a week, 8% in all £26.40 | £514.80 if they join |
| Jo, 40, paid £700 a month: can ask to join, and you then pay in. Pay that counts £180 (£700 − £520); you pay 3%, £5.40 a month, 8% in all £14.40 | £64.80 if they join |
| Kim, 52, paid £380 every 4 weeks: can ask to join, and you needn't pay in | |
| Sam: you pay £47.40 × 12 | + £568.80 |
| You must pay in each year, at least 3% of the pay that counts | £568.80 |
| Your staff pay in each year (the rest of the 8%, including their tax relief) | £948 |
| Extra a year if everyone who can opt in asks to join | £579.60 |
Worked out using HMRC's published rates for the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027), on a yearly basis.
Questions people ask
Can a worker say no?
Yes. They can leave within a month of being put in and get their money back. Every 3 years you must put back in anyone who must be in but has left, and tell The Pensions Regulator you've done it.
Can I wait before putting a new starter in?
Yes, by up to 3 months (postponement), if you write to them within 6 weeks of their first day (or of the day they'd otherwise qualify). They can still ask to join during that time.
What if their pay changes from week to week?
Check each pay day. Someone aged 22 to State Pension age who earns over the level in one pay period must be put in from then, even if they usually earn less.
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