United Kingdom take-home pay: example salaries (2026)
Here is the net take-home pay after tax for a range of common gross salaries in United Kingdom, for a single person using the default settings above. Use the calculator for your exact figure.
| Gross salary (per year) | Net per year | Net per month | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| £20,000 | £17,920 | £1,493 | 89.6% |
| £25,000 | £21,520 | £1,793 | 86.1% |
| £30,000 | £25,120 | £2,093 | 83.7% |
| £35,000 | £28,720 | £2,393 | 82.1% |
| £40,000 | £32,320 | £2,693 | 80.8% |
| £50,000 | £39,520 | £3,293 | 79.0% |
| £60,000 | £45,357 | £3,780 | 75.6% |
| £75,000 | £54,057 | £4,505 | 72.1% |
| £100,000 | £68,557 | £5,713 | 68.6% |
| £125,000 | £78,057 | £6,505 | 62.4% |
How your UK take-home pay is calculated in 2026/27
Your gross salary is reduced by two main deductions before it reaches your bank account: Income Tax (collected through PAYE) and National Insurance. On top of that you may repay a student loan and pay into a pension. This calculator uses the official 2026/27 thresholds for both the rest of the UK and Scotland.
Income tax is progressive: everyone gets a tax-free personal allowance of £12,570, then each band above it is taxed at a higher rate. Scotland sets its own bands and rates, so where you live changes your take-home pay even on an identical salary.
2026/27 income tax — England, Wales & Northern Ireland
| Band | Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Basic rate | £12,571 – £50,270 | 20% |
| Higher rate | £50,271 – £125,140 | 40% |
| Additional rate | Over £125,140 | 45% |
The personal allowance and the 60% trap
The £12,570 personal allowance is tax-free — but it is withdrawn by £1 for every £2 you earn above £100,000, disappearing completely at £125,140. In that band each extra £1 is taxed at 40% and also removes 50p of allowance, creating an effective marginal rate of about 60%. Pension contributions are the usual way to soften it, which is why this calculator lets you model them.
Income tax in Scotland
Scotland has six bands rather than three, from a 19% starter rate up to a 48% top rate. Middle and higher earners in Scotland generally pay more income tax than elsewhere in the UK, while the lowest earners pay slightly less. Select Scotland above to apply the Scottish bands.
2026/27 income tax — Scotland
| Band | Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | £12,571 – £15,397 | 19% |
| Basic | £15,398 – £27,491 | 20% |
| Intermediate | £27,492 – £43,662 | 21% |
| Higher | £43,663 – £75,000 | 42% |
| Advanced | £75,001 – £125,140 | 45% |
| Top | Over £125,140 | 48% |
National Insurance
Employees pay Class 1 National Insurance at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% on anything above £50,270. You stop paying National Insurance once you reach State Pension age, which you can reflect with the option above.
Student loans and pensions
Student-loan repayments are 9% of income above your plan’s threshold (Plan 1 £26,900, Plan 2 £29,385, Plan 4 £33,795, Plan 5 £25,000), or 6% above £21,000 for a postgraduate loan. You can repay an undergraduate and a postgraduate loan at the same time. A salary-sacrifice pension lowers both your income tax and your National Insurance, while a workplace (net-pay) pension lowers only your income tax.
Worked example: £50,000, England, no extras
- Personal allowance: £12,570 tax-free
- Income tax: 20% on £37,430 = about £7,486
- National Insurance: 8% on £37,430 = about £2,994
- Net take-home: about £39,520 a year, roughly £3,293 a month
The same £50,000 in Scotland gives about £37,990 net, because Scotland’s higher-rate band starts lower and its rates differ.
Frequently asked questions
How much is £30,000 after tax in the UK?
In 2026/27 (England/Wales/NI, no student loan or pension) £30,000 leaves about £25,120 a year — roughly £2,093 a month — after around £3,486 income tax and £1,394 National Insurance.
Why is my take-home different in Scotland?
Scotland sets its own income tax bands and rates (19% to 48% across six bands), so Scottish taxpayers usually pay more income tax above about £28,000. National Insurance is identical across the UK.
What is the 60% tax trap?
Between £100,000 and £125,140 your personal allowance is withdrawn by £1 for every £2 earned. Combined with 40% tax, this makes the effective rate on that slice of income about 60%. Pension contributions can reduce it.
How much is a student loan repayment?
You repay 9% of income above your plan threshold (6% above £21,000 for postgraduate loans). For example, Plan 2 on £35,000 is 9% of (£35,000 − £29,385) ≈ £505 a year.
Does a pension reduce my tax?
Yes. A salary-sacrifice pension reduces both income tax and National Insurance; a workplace net-pay pension reduces income tax. The contribution still leaves your pay, but more of it stays invested for you rather than going to tax.