Teachers' pension calculator
Estimate the annual pension you could build up in the Teachers' Pension Scheme career average (CARE) section. This is an estimate based on the assumptions you choose, not a promise. Your annual benefit statement is the source of truth.
Rules last checked 13 October 2026.
Your actual annual pensionable pay. If you work part time, use your actual pay, not the full-time equivalent.
From now until you retire or leave.
While you are an active member your pension is revalued each year by CPI plus 1.6%. With CPI at 2%, revaluation is 3.6%. For reference, Teachers' Pensions lists 5.4% as the active revaluation rate at 1 April 2026. These are example values, not predictions.
Use the figure from your annual benefit statement. This calculator assumes it is the amount at the start of the first year you model.
You get £12 of lump sum for every £1 of annual pension you give up. This cannot be more than your total pension.
Uses the CPI rate you entered as the rate of price rises.
Enter your pensionable pay and the years you will keep building pension to see an estimate.
Nothing you enter leaves your device. This is an estimate, not financial advice. Your annual benefit statement from Teachers' Pensions shows your actual benefits.
How the Teachers' Pension is worked out
In the career average section, each year you build up pension equal to 1/57th of your annual pensionable earnings, which goes into a pot. While you are an active member, each year's pot is revalued for price rises plus an extra 1.6% (CPI plus 1.6%). Your pension is the total of the revalued amounts from every year of membership.
For example, £57,000 of pensionable earnings in a year builds £1,000 of pension for that year.
Members can pay extra contributions for faster accrual of 1/55th, 1/50th or 1/45th for a chosen scheme year. This calculator does not model faster accrual.
Who is in the career average section
The career average scheme was introduced in April 2015, and new starters automatically joined it. From 1 April 2022 all active members contribute to it. Benefits built up before then stay protected in their original arrangement, so you may have more than one type of benefit.
What counts as pensionable pay
All eligible employments are pensionable in the scheme. Pension builds on your actual pensionable earnings, so part-time pay counts as earned. If you receive no pay you are not in pensionable service and build up nothing. During paid family or sick leave you build up as though on your usual pay, applied to actual earnings.
When you can retire
Normal pension age is your State Pension age or age 65, whichever is later. You can check your State Pension age on GOV.UK. You need two years of pensionable service to qualify for benefits.
Benefits can be taken at normal pension age or earlier through early retirement, and ill-health retirement is also available. Early retirement reduces the pension. The adjustment factors are on the Teachers' Pensions website.
Tax-free lump sum
You can give up part of your pension for a lump sum, at £12 of lump sum for every £1 of annual pension you give up.
The tax-free lump sum is limited to 25% of the value of your pension rights, and HMRC's lump sum allowance of £268,275 for most people also applies. This calculator does not check these limits.
Your contributions
Member contribution rates for 2026/27, effective from 1 April 2026. The salary bands for contribution rates increased by 3.8% with effect from 1 April 2026.
| Annual salary rate | Contribution rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £36,198.99 | 7.4% |
| £36,199 to £48,727.99 | 8.9% |
| £48,728 to £57,776.99 | 9.9% |
| £57,777 to £76,572.99 | 10.5% |
| £76,573 to £104,413.99 | 11.6% |
| £104,414 and above | 12% |
For full-time members the tier is set by annual salary rate. For part-time, supply and irregular members it is based on annualised pensionable earnings for the pay period, using actual pay and not full-time equivalent, and overtime and backdated pay increases are left out of that calculation. If you work in more than one job covered by the scheme, each employment is tiered separately. You get tax relief on your contributions.
What this calculator does not include
- Final salary benefits.
- Faster accrual and other ways of buying extra pension.
- Early and late retirement adjustments.
- Lump sum limit checks.
- Tax on the pension.
- Family and death benefits.
- The McCloud remedy choices.
- Scottish or Northern Irish scheme rules.
- Pension increases after retirement.
- The Annual Allowance or other tax limits.
Know someone in the NHS? See how the NHS Pension Scheme works with the NHS pension calculator.
Have a private pension too? Try the pension drawdown calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How is a Teachers' Pension calculated in the career average section?
Each year you build up pension equal to 1/57th of your annual pensionable earnings. Each year's pot is revalued, and your pension is the total of the revalued amounts from every year of membership.
How is the Teachers' Pension revalued?
While you are an active member, each year's pot is revalued for price rises plus an extra 1.6%, which is CPI plus 1.6%. Teachers' Pensions lists the active revaluation rate at 1 April 2026 as 5.4%.
What is the normal pension age in the Teachers' Pension Scheme?
It is your State Pension age or age 65, whichever is later. You can check your State Pension age on GOV.UK.
Can I take a lump sum from my Teachers' Pension?
Yes. You can give up part of your pension for a lump sum at £12 for every £1 of annual pension you give up. The tax-free lump sum is limited to 25% of the value of your pension rights, and HMRC limits also apply.
How much do I pay into the Teachers' Pension?
Your contribution rate depends on your annual salary rate. From 1 April 2026 the rates run from 7.4% for up to £36,198.99 to 12% for £104,414 and above. You get tax relief on your contributions.
Is my tier based on full-time equivalent pay?
No. For part-time, supply and irregular members it is based on actual pay, annualised for the pay period, not the full-time equivalent. Overtime and backdated pay increases are left out of that calculation.
Does this calculator cover final salary benefits?
No. It covers the career average section only. If you have older membership, check your annual benefit statement, because final salary benefits work differently.
Can I retire early from the Teachers' Pension Scheme?
Benefits can be taken before normal pension age through early retirement, and ill-health retirement is also available. Early retirement reduces the pension. The adjustment factors are on the Teachers' Pensions website.
Sources
Rules checked against these official pages on 13 October 2026:
Read how we keep calculators accurate, or browse all UK calculators.
PayPrompt is independent and is not affiliated with Teachers' Pensions or the Department for Education.
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