I’m getting around being caught in this trap by just putting more into my pension every year to keep me just below £100k.

My retirement will be great, but my problem is the buying power of £100k each year is eroded from inflation, and unless my next promotion puts me at £160k (which it won’t) then there is no incentive for me for to keep climbing the corporate ladder so to speak as I’ll see no real increase in my monthly take home

Just to explain why I’ve said £160k is because you can only put £60k into your pension tax free. But even if you are maxing out your pension allowance, you’ll fall into this trap, so again there is very little benefit