Will I ever have a good pension?
If you’re worried you don’t earn enough to build a decent pension, the maths is more encouraging than it feels. On a median UK salary, paying just the auto-enrolment minimum, most people are on track for a six-figure pot by 67 — and the bulk of it is investment growth, not money you save. Pick a target or a starting age to see a worked example (built from ONS national medians), with a live tester you can adjust. All figures are in today’s money.
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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.