Pension outlook · worked example
Will I have a £200k pension at 37?
Yes. Starting from the £29k 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 £301k by 67 — you'd pass £200k around age 60. About 64% of that is investment growth, not money you save — you don't need a big income, you need time.
You don’t save your way to £200k — you grow it
Of the £301k pot built by 67, about £108,300 is money you put in and roughly £192,867 is investment growth — 64p in every £1 comes from compounding, not a bigger salary.
Here’s the scenario
A typical earner your age, built from ONS national medians — not a high flyer. Everything is in today’s money.
How the pot builds up
- Age 37Not yetPaid in£29kPot value£29k
- Age 42Not yetPaid in£42kPot value£52k
- Age 47Not yetPaid in£56kPot value£81k
- Age 52Not yetPaid in£69kPot value£117k
- Age 57Not yetPaid in£82kPot value£165k
- Age 60Not yetPaid in£90kPot value£199k
- Age 62Past £200kPaid in£95kPot value£225k
- Age 67Past £200kPaid in£108kPot value£301k
On these average figures you’d pass £200k around age 60 — and it keeps compounding after that.