Take-home pay calculator 2026/27

Enter your salary to see what you keep after income tax, National Insurance, workplace pension and student loan – per year, month and week, using 2026/27 tax year rates.

Estimate only – not financial or tax advice. Tax year: 2026/27. Source: GOV.UK income tax rates, gov.scot Scottish rates, GOV.UK National Insurance, GOV.UK student loans. Figures last checked: . Assumes the standard tax code (1257L) and a salary paid evenly through the year; your payslip can differ slightly because payroll works pay period by pay period.

How the take-home pay calculator works

Your take-home pay is your gross salary minus four things: income tax, National Insurance, any workplace pension you pay, and student loan repayments. The calculator works each one out for the whole tax year, then divides by 12 for a monthly figure and by 52 for a weekly one.

  • Personal Allowance. The first £12,570 of income is tax-free for most people. Over £100,000 the allowance falls by £1 for every £2 of extra income, so it is gone completely at £125,140 – which is why pay between those two figures is taxed at an effective 60%.
  • Income tax bands. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, income above the allowance is taxed at 20% (basic rate), 40% (higher rate, from £50,271) and 45% (additional rate, over £125,140). Scotland has six bands, from a 19% starter rate to a 48% top rate – choose “Scotland” if you live there.
  • National Insurance. Employees pay Class 1 NI of 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 a year and 2% above that. NI is the same in every part of the UK.
  • Pension. What a pension saves you depends on how it is taken. Salary sacrifice lowers the pay that both tax and NI are worked out on. A net pay arrangement lowers tax but not NI. With relief at source you pay 80% of the contribution out of your take-home pay and the provider claims the other 20% from HMRC (higher-rate taxpayers can claim more back through Self Assessment).
  • Student loan. You repay 9% of income above your plan's threshold (6% above £21,000 for a Postgraduate Loan). You can repay an undergraduate plan and a Postgraduate Loan at the same time.

Worked example: £30,000 salary in England

Salary £30,000, England, no pension, no student loan:

  • Taxable income: £30,000 − £12,570 = £17,430. Income tax at 20% = £3,486.
  • National Insurance: (£30,000 − £12,570) × 8% = £1,394.40.
  • Take-home pay: £30,000 − £3,486 − £1,394.40 = £25,119.60 a year, about £2,093.30 a month.

Why your payslip may be a little different

Payroll works tax and NI out each pay period, not once for the year. Bonuses, overtime, a tax code other than 1257L (for example because of benefits in kind, tax owed from an earlier year or a second job), or a pay rise part-way through the year all change the numbers. Use the calculator to plan and to compare job offers, and check your payslip and your personal tax account on GOV.UK for the exact figures.

Scotland or the rest of the UK?

Which bands apply depends on where your main home is, not where your employer is. If you live in Scotland you pay Scottish income tax and your tax code starts with S. National Insurance is the same everywhere.

Frequently asked questions

How much tax do I pay on a £30,000 salary?

In England, Wales or Northern Ireland in 2026/27 you pay about £3,486 income tax and £1,394.40 National Insurance on £30,000, leaving about £25,119.60 a year (with no pension or student loan).

What is the Personal Allowance for 2026/27?

£12,570. It falls by £1 for every £2 of income over £100,000 and is zero from £125,140.

Does salary sacrifice reduce National Insurance?

Yes. A pension paid by salary sacrifice lowers the pay that both income tax and National Insurance are worked out on. A net pay arrangement lowers income tax only.

Is National Insurance different in Scotland?

No. Scotland sets its own income tax bands, but National Insurance rates and thresholds are the same across the UK.

Why is my real take-home pay different?

Your tax code, bonuses, overtime, benefits in kind and how payroll spreads tax across pay periods all change the exact figure. This calculator assumes the standard 1257L tax code and an even salary.