Have I Enough?
Have I Enough?
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Pension outlook

Will I ever have a £250k pension?

For most people on a typical (median) UK salary, yes — and earlier than you’d think, because compounding does most of the work. Here’s what a median earner at each age is on track for by 67, paying just the auto-enrolment minimum. The younger you start, the easier £250k gets. Figures use ONS national medians (sources below).

£150k pension£200k pension£300k pension£400k pension£500k pension£750k pension£1m pension

Try it with your own numbers

Live

The real planner engine, running in your browser. Change your pot, monthly saving, growth and target and watch the pot you’d have by 67 — and the age you’d hit your target — update instantly.

On trackHits £250k at ~61

You'd reach £250k around age 61 and have about £347k by 67. Around 68% of that is investment growth.

Pot at 67
£347k
Hits target
Age 61
You put in
£111k
Growth adds
£237k

Projected pot (today's money)

Pot
Open the full plannerAssumes contributions to 67 and growth above inflation. Illustrative only — not financial advice.

Where these figures come from

The default salary, contribution and existing-pot figures are UK national medians, not a prediction about you — your own pay, employer scheme, other pensions and returns will differ. Change any of them in the live tester above. Growth of 5% a year above inflation is illustrative, and all amounts are in today’s money. This is a planning tool, not financial advice.

Frequently asked questions

Will I have a £250k pension at 30?

Yes. Starting from the £13k an average saver your age already has, and paying in the auto-enrolment minimum of about £220 a month on the median £39k full-time salary for your age, you're on track for roughly £347k by 67 — you'd pass £250k around age 61. About 68% of that is investment growth, not money you save — you don't need a big income, you need time. The figures use national medians (not a promise about you): the ONS median full-time salary for ages 30–39 (£39k), the auto-enrolment minimum of about £220 a month (you + employer, 8% of qualifying earnings), the ONS median pot for someone your age who already saves (£13k), and 5% investment growth a year above inflation to age 67.

Do I need a high salary to get a £250k pension?

No. On the median £39k full-time salary for ages 30–39 (ONS), paying only the legal minimum, you'd build around £347k by 67, past £250k. The reason is compounding: about 68% of the pot is investment growth rather than money you pay in. Starting earlier matters far more than earning more, because your early contributions have the longest to grow.

How much do I need to save each month for a £250k pension?

On these assumptions the auto-enrolment minimum of about £220 a month already gets there by 67. Paying in a little more, or starting sooner, would reach £250k earlier or leave headroom.

Is a £250k pension enough to retire on?

It depends on your spending and other income. A £250k pot plus the State Pension (about £11,502 a year from 67) might support a modest-to-comfortable retirement using the 4% guide. Use the free planner to test how long £250k would actually last at your target spending.

Are these numbers financial advice?

No. This is an illustrative worked example from a free planning tool using fixed assumptions (average pay, 5% real growth, pension access from 55). Your own pensions, employer, returns and career will change the result. Open the planner to run it with your real figures.