Teachers' Pension calculator
The Teachers' Pension career average scheme builds an annual pension worth 1/57 of pensionable pay each year, revalued to retirement, under rules set by the Department for Education and the Teachers' Pension Scheme. On £40,000 of pay over 30 years, the estimated annual pension is £21,053, or £1,754 a month.
How does the Teachers' Pension career average scheme work?
The current Teachers' Pension is a career average scheme, not a final-salary one, as set out by the Teachers' Pension Scheme.
Each year a member earns a pension slice worth 1/57 of that year's pensionable pay.
That slice goes into a running pot and is revalued every year until retirement, at a rate of the Consumer Prices Index plus 1.6% for active members, under Department for Education rules for the scheme.
Because every year is banked and grown on its own, pay across a whole career shapes the pension, not only salary at the end.
This tool keeps the maths simple by assuming pay roughly keeps pace with revaluation, so each year stays worth about a fifty-seventh of current pay in today's money.
The estimate divides pay by 57, then multiplies by years of service.
It is a guide only, since the official annual benefit statement from the Teachers' Pension Scheme is the figure to rely on.
How much pension would an example teacher build?
Take pensionable pay of £40,000 and 30 years in the career average scheme.
Each year builds an estimated £702 of pension, because £40,000 divided by 57 is £701.75.
Over 30 years that comes to an estimated £21,053 a year, or £1,754 a month, roughly 52.6% of the pay used here.
Any faster accrual paid for through the Teachers' Pension Scheme would lift these estimated figures.
Common questions
How does the career average Teachers' Pension work?
Each year you build a pension slice worth 1/57 of your pensionable earnings for that year. The slice is added to your pot and revalued every year, so early service keeps its value. When you retire, all the slices are added together to give your yearly pension.
What counts as pensionable earnings?
Your regular salary plus items such as overtime and some allowances. It is broadly your gross teaching pay. Use your actual pensionable pay rather than a rough salary figure for a closer estimate.
How accurate is this estimate?
It is a guide only. It assumes your pay keeps pace with the scheme revaluation, so each year stays worth about £702 of pension in today’s money. Your official Teachers' Pensions benefit statement is the definitive figure.
Can I build up pension faster?
Yes. The standard rate is 1/57 of pay a year, but you can pay more to accrue at 1/55, 1/50 or 1/45 through the faster accrual option. This tool uses the standard 1/57 rate.
How does the Teachers' Pension career average scheme work?
The Teachers' Pension career average scheme is set out by the Department for Education and run by the Teachers' Pension Scheme. Each year a member earns a slice worth 1/57 of that year's pensionable pay, and the slice is revalued every year until retirement. Because pay across a whole career is banked separately, the final pension depends on earnings throughout service, not only pay near retirement.
How much pension would an example teacher build?
On £40,000 of pensionable pay over 30 years in the career average scheme, each year builds an estimated £702 of pension. Added together, that gives an estimated annual pension of £21,053, or about £1,754 a month, roughly 52.6% of the pay used in the example. The Teachers' Pension Scheme's annual benefit statement gives the definitive figure.
Sources & Rate Verification
Rates verified against official statutory guidance on 6 September 2026.