Ireland Auto-Enrolment Pension Calculator
Calculate your Ireland auto-enrolment pension contributions across all 4 phases (2025–2034+). Enter your gross salary to see exactly how much you, your employer, and the State will contribute each month and year — at every phase of the phased rollout. Based on the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Act 2024. All calculations run privately in your browser.
Your Auto-Enrolment Details
How Ireland Auto-Enrolment Works
Ireland's auto-enrolment (AE) pension scheme is a landmark retirement savings reform introduced under the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Act 2024. The scheme automatically enrols eligible private sector employees who earn over €20,000 per year and are aged 23–60, unless they are already in a qualifying occupational pension scheme. Contributions are shared between three parties: the employee, the employer (who must match the employee contribution), and the Irish State (which contributes €1 for every €3 the employee contributes, up to a maximum).
Contributions are capped on the first €80,000 of salary — income above €80,000 is not subject to AE contributions. The scheme is phased in over 10 years, starting at 1.5% contributions from both employee and employer, rising to 6% each by year 10.
Why Auto-Enrolment Is a Major Financial Opportunity
The employer matching and State top-up mean auto-enrolment provides an immediate return of over 133% on your own contributions in Phase 1 — for every €1.50 you put in, you receive an additional €1.50 from your employer plus €0.50 from the State, making your total pot €3.50 before any investment returns. This is one of the most tax-efficient savings mechanisms ever introduced in Ireland.
Workers who opt out lose both the employer match and the State top-up — effectively declining free money. On a €50,000 salary in Phase 4, opting out means foregoing approximately €4,000 per year in free contributions from your employer and the State.
Auto-Enrolment vs Existing Pension Schemes
If you are already in an employer occupational pension scheme that meets qualifying criteria, you are exempt from AE — your existing scheme takes precedence. If your employer scheme contributes less than the AE rates, there may be a top-up obligation. Workers with a PRSA (Personal Retirement Savings Account) through their employer may also be exempt, depending on whether the PRSA meets the qualifying criteria set by the Pensions Authority.
Self-employed workers are not automatically enrolled but can opt in voluntarily. They will not receive an employer contribution but will still receive the State top-up of €1 per €3 contributed. For self-employed people with variable income, this represents a flexible way to access State-supported pension savings.