Both you and your employer contribute to your LGPS pension. How much you pay depends on how much you earn. You will pay between 5.5% and 12.5% of your pensionable pay.
Every April, your employer will decide your contribution rate. If you have more than one job, your employer will set your contribution rate for each job separately. If your pay changes throughout the year, your employer may decide to review your contribution rate then, rather than wait until the following April.
Your payroll contact can tell you how and when your contribution rate may change throughout the year.
You also have the choice to pay half your normal contribution rate and build up half your normal pension whilst retaining full life and ill-health cover. This is called the 50/50 section of the LGPS. If you would like to investigate this, please speak to your Payroll contact.
The table below shows the pay bands and contribution rates that apply from April 2026:
| Band | Actual pensionable pay for an employment | Main section contribution rate for that employment | 50/50 section contribution rate for that employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to £18,400 | 5.50% | 2.75% |
| 2 | £18,401 to £29,000 | 5.80% | 2.90% |
| 3 | £29,001 to £47,300 | 6.50% | 3.25% |
| 4 | £47,301 to £59,800 | 6.80% | 3.40% |
| 5 | £59,801 to £84,000 | 8.50% | 4.25% |
| 6 | £84,001 to £119,100 | 9.90% | 4.95% |
| 7 | £119,101 to £140,400 | 10.50% | 5.25% |
| 8 | £140,401 to £210,700 | 11.40% | 5.70% |
| 9 | £210,701 or more | 12.50% | 6.25% |