About the UK Take-Home Pay Calculator
Your take-home pay is what lands in your bank account after your employer deducts income tax, National Insurance, pension contributions and any student loan repayments through PAYE. This calculator uses the official 2026/27 rates and thresholds published by HMRC for the tax year running from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. Enter your annual salary to see exactly where your money goes, and switch between yearly, monthly and weekly figures to compare a job offer or check a payslip.
How to use the UK Take-Home Pay Calculator
- Enter your annual salary before tax. For an hourly job, multiply your hourly rate by your yearly hours first, or use our hourly-to-salary calculator.
- Choose England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or Scotland — Scotland has its own income tax bands.
- Add your pension contribution percentage and type (check your payslip or ask HR if unsure).
- Select your student loan plan if you have one, and tick the postgraduate loan box if it applies.
- Read your take-home pay and the full breakdown per year, month or week.
The formula behind it
Take-home pay on common UK salaries (2026/27)
England, Wales and Northern Ireland, standard 1257L tax code, no pension or student loan. Use the calculator above to add your own pension and loan deductions.
| Salary | Income tax | National Insurance | Take-home per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £20,000 | £1,486 | £594.40 | £17,919.60 | £1,493.30 |
| £25,000 | £2,486 | £994.40 | £21,519.60 | £1,793.30 |
| £30,000 | £3,486 | £1,394.40 | £25,119.60 | £2,093.30 |
| £35,000 | £4,486 | £1,794.40 | £28,719.60 | £2,393.30 |
| £40,000 | £5,486 | £2,194.40 | £32,319.60 | £2,693.30 |
| £45,000 | £6,486 | £2,594.40 | £35,919.60 | £2,993.30 |
| £50,000 | £7,486 | £2,994.40 | £39,519.60 | £3,293.30 |
| £55,000 | £9,432 | £3,110.60 | £42,457.40 | £3,538.12 |
| £60,000 | £11,432 | £3,210.60 | £45,357.40 | £3,779.78 |
| £70,000 | £15,432 | £3,410.60 | £51,157.40 | £4,263.12 |
| £80,000 | £19,432 | £3,610.60 | £56,957.40 | £4,746.45 |
| £100,000 | £27,432 | £4,010.60 | £68,557.40 | £5,713.12 |
UK income tax rates for 2026/27
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, income tax is charged on income above your personal allowance:
- Personal allowance: first £12,570 tax-free.
- Basic rate 20%: £12,571 to £50,270.
- Higher rate 40%: £50,271 to £125,140.
- Additional rate 45%: over £125,140.
- Your personal allowance falls by £1 for every £2 of income over £100,000, and is zero from £125,140.
National Insurance for employees
Employees pay Class 1 National Insurance at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 a year, and 2% on everything above that. Unlike income tax, National Insurance is worked out on each pay period separately, so a one-off bonus can change the amount in that month.
The 60% tax trap between £100,000 and £125,140
Because the personal allowance is withdrawn as income rises above £100,000, every extra £1 in this range costs 40p in tax plus another 20p from the lost allowance — an effective income tax rate of 60%, or 62% including National Insurance. Paying more into a pension through salary sacrifice or a net pay scheme reduces your adjusted income and can win back some or all of the allowance.
How pension contributions change your take-home pay
The calculator supports the three common types of workplace pension:
- Net pay arrangement: your contribution is taken before income tax, so you get tax relief straight away. National Insurance is still charged on your full salary.
- Relief at source: you pay 80% of the contribution from your taxed pay and the pension provider claims the other 20% from HMRC. Higher-rate taxpayers can claim extra relief through Self Assessment.
- Salary sacrifice: you agree to a lower salary and your employer pays the difference into your pension, so you save both income tax and National Insurance.
Student loan repayment thresholds 2026/27
Repayments are 9% of income above your plan’s threshold (6% for postgraduate loans):
- Plan 1: £26,900.
- Plan 2: £29,385.
- Plan 4 (Scotland): £33,795.
- Plan 5: £25,000.
- Postgraduate loan: £21,000 at 6%.
Examples
£30,000 salary
Income tax £3,486 + National Insurance £1,394.40 = take-home £25,119.60 a year, or about £2,093 a month (no pension or student loan).
£110,000 salary
The personal allowance drops to £7,570, giving income tax of £33,432 and National Insurance of £4,210.60.
Frequently asked questions
What is the take-home pay on a £30,000 salary in the UK?
In England, Wales or Northern Ireland, about £25,120 a year (£2,093 a month) for 2026/27, with no pension or student loan deductions.
What is £40,000 after tax in the UK?
About £32,320 a year or £2,693 a month in England, Wales or Northern Ireland for 2026/27, with no pension or student loan.
What is £50,000 after tax in the UK?
About £39,520 a year or £3,293 a month for 2026/27. Above £50,270 you start paying the 40% higher rate.
Has the personal allowance changed for 2026/27?
No. It stays at £12,570, and the higher-rate threshold stays at £50,270. These thresholds are frozen.
Why is my payslip slightly different?
PAYE is calculated each pay period, and things like an emergency tax code, benefits in kind, overtime or bonuses can change a single month. This calculator assumes a steady salary and the standard 1257L tax code.
Does this include employer pension contributions?
No. Employer contributions are paid on top of your salary, so they do not reduce your take-home pay.
Sources
About the author: Ahmed Bilal
Ahmed Bilal is the founder of VolexTool and builds and maintains every calculator on the site. Tax rates and thresholds are taken directly from official sources such as GOV.UK, HMRC, the Canada Revenue Agency and the Australian Taxation Office, the formula is shown on every page, and each update must pass more than 600 automated checks before it goes live. Ahmed is not a tax adviser: for decisions about your own situation, speak to a qualified accountant or financial adviser.