£28,000 Career Starter — Building Pension Habits From Day One

At close to the UK average graduate starting salary, establishing good pension habits now has an enormous impact on retirement outcomes thanks to compound growth over 40+ years.

Key Figures

• Salary: £28,000
• Your contribution (5%): £1,400/year
• Employer contribution (4%): £1,120/year
• Tax relief (20%): £280/year
• Total into pension: £2,800/year

The Power of Starting Early

Starting at 22 instead of 32 means 10 extra years of compound growth. With 5% annual returns, starting 10 years earlier could mean an extra £150,000+ in your pension pot by age 67.