UK Take-Home Pay Calculator
How much of your salary actually lands in your bank account? This calculator deducts 2026/27 income tax, National Insurance, your pension contribution, and any student loan repayment from your gross salary.
How to use this calculator
- Enter gross annual salary.
- Enter pension contribution.
- Enter student loan plan.
- Your results appear instantly below and update as you change the numbers.
How this calculator works
The calculator applies the 2026/27 rules in the order your employer does: your pension contribution comes off first (reducing your taxable income), then income tax is charged on the rest using the personal allowance and 20/40/45% bands, and National Insurance is charged at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above. A student loan repayment is 9% of income above your plan's threshold (6% for postgraduate). Everything is subtracted from gross pay to give your net take-home, monthly and annual. Worked example: a £40,000 salary with 5% pension and no student loan pays £5,086 tax, £2,194 NI, and £2,000 into the pension — £30,720 a year, or £2,560 a month.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average UK take-home pay?
The median UK salary is roughly £37,000, which after tax and NI works out to about £2,500 a month (before pension and student loans). At £30,000 you take home about £2,100 a month; at £50,000 about £3,200.
Does salary sacrifice change the result?
Yes — and in your favour. If your pension is paid by salary sacrifice, the contribution also reduces your National Insurance, adding roughly 8% more to your take-home than shown here. The calculator assumes relief-at-source (the most common arrangement), where NI is calculated on your gross salary.
Why does a £1,000 pay rise sometimes add less than expected?
Your marginal deductions stack: above £50,270 you pay 40% tax, 2% NI and possibly 9% student loan — a 51% total marginal rate. A £1,000 raise in the higher-rate band adds only about £490 of take-home pay.
Disclaimer: Results are estimates for general information only and do not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Figures reflect the current tax year and may change. Always confirm current limits and consult a qualified professional before making decisions. Official figures: GOV.UK income tax rates · National Insurance · Stamp Duty Land Tax.