The average combined contribution rates to the defined contribution (DC) schemes at the UK's largest firms has risen by a full percentage point to 14.7% of salary in the last year. According to Watson Wyatt's 2007 FTSE 100 defined contribution pension scheme survey, such contribution rates - of which the employer typically pays two-thirds - at this level tend to be only available to employees willing to make contributions beyond those needed to join the plan. In addition, the study found the minimum core contribution is 8.4% on average. This is made up of a 2.2% staff contribution and 6.2% from employers.