UK Salary Calculator 2026/27
Enter your salary, where you live and any student loan. Everything updates instantly.
You take home
- Take-home£00%
- Income tax£00%
- National Insurance£00%
- Student loan£00%
You work for HMRC until 11:00 every day.
Based on an 8-hour day and 2026/27 HMRC rates. Spread across the year, everything you earn before … goes in tax.
Work it backwards.
Know what you need to take home? Find the gross salary that gets you there.
Is £0 realistic for your role? Check your market rate free
Your bonus, after tax.
Bonuses go through PAYE with your salary, so they're taxed at your top rate. Here's what lands in your account.
Pension: the real cost.
Tax relief means every pound you put in costs you less than a pound.
How UK income tax works in 2026
UK income tax is calculated using two separate deductions — Income Tax (PAYE) and National Insurance (NI). Both are deducted before you receive your pay.
Income Tax 2026/27
The personal allowance for 2026/27 is £12,570 — you pay no income tax on earnings up to this level. Above the personal allowance, the basic rate of 20% applies up to £50,270, and the higher rate of 40% applies above that. The additional rate of 45% applies above £125,140.
| Income Band | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £12,570 (Personal Allowance) | 0% |
| £12,571 to £50,270 | 20% (Basic rate) |
| £50,271 to £125,140 | 40% (Higher rate) |
| Above £125,140 | 45% (Additional rate) |
National Insurance 2026
National Insurance (Class 1) is paid by employees on earnings above the Primary Threshold (£12,570). The main rate is 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% on earnings above £50,270.
| Earnings Band | NI Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| £12,571 to £50,270 | 8% |
| Above £50,270 | 2% |
Student loan repayments
Plan 2 student loans (most graduates who started university after 2012) are repaid at 9% on earnings above £29,385 a year in 2026/27. This is collected through the PAYE system alongside income tax and NI.
UK take-home pay examples 2026
| Gross Salary | Annual Take-Home | Monthly Take-Home | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| £30,000 | £25,120 | £2,093 | 16.3% |
| £40,000 | £32,320 | £2,693 | 19.2% |
| £50,000 | £39,520 | £3,293 | 21.0% |
| £60,000 | £45,357 | £3,780 | 24.4% |
| £75,000 | £54,057 | £4,505 | 27.9% |
| £90,000 | £62,757 | £5,230 | 30.3% |
| £100,000 | £68,557 | £5,713 | 31.4% |
| £125,000 | £78,057 | £6,505 | 37.6% |
Standard personal allowance, no student loan. Figures are estimates.
What gross do I need to take home X in the UK? — 2026
One of the most common questions before a salary negotiation is: "I want to take home £4,000 a month — what gross salary do I need?" For a standard taxpayer in 2026/27 (gross rounded up to the nearest £100):
| Desired Monthly Take-Home | Gross Salary Needed | Annual Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| £2,500/month | £36,800 | £30,000 |
| £3,000/month | £45,200 | £36,000 |
| £3,500/month | £54,300 | £42,000 |
| £4,000/month | £64,600 | £48,000 |
| £4,500/month | £75,000 | £54,000 |
| £5,000/month | £85,300 | £60,000 |
| £5,500/month | £95,600 | £66,000 |
| £6,000/month | £109,100 | £72,000 |
Is your salary above or below market for UK finance?
| Role | London | Manchester | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Accountant (2-4 yrs PQE) | £50,000–£65,000 | £40,000–£52,000 | Hays UK 2026 |
| Finance Manager (3-5 yrs PQE) | £55,000–£80,000 | £44,000–£62,000 | Robert Walters UK 2026 |
| Financial Controller | £65,000–£100,000 | £52,000–£78,000 | Morgan McKinley UK 2026 |
| Finance Business Partner | £60,000–£90,000 | £48,000–£72,000 | Morgan McKinley UK 2026 |
| Compliance Manager | £50,000–£75,000 | £40,000–£60,000 | Robert Walters UK 2026 |
| Risk Manager | £60,000–£90,000 | £48,000–£72,000 | Robert Walters UK 2026 |
| Internal Audit Manager | £65,000–£90,000 | £52,000–£72,000 | Hays UK 2026 |
| Tax Manager (in-house) | £65,000–£90,000 | £52,000–£72,000 | Hays UK 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on take-home pay, tax and the calculator itself.
How accurate is this calculator?
The calculator uses 2026/27 HMRC Income Tax bands and National Insurance rates. It assumes the standard personal allowance of £12,570 and no other tax reliefs. Your actual take-home may differ based on pension contributions, benefit-in-kind, additional allowances or other circumstances.
Does it include pension contributions?
The calculator does not deduct personal pension contributions. If you make pension contributions through salary sacrifice, your take-home will be lower but your taxable income will also be reduced. Employer pension contributions are not included in the take-home calculation.
What is the 60% tax trap?
Between £100,000 and £125,140, the personal allowance is withdrawn at £1 for every £2 earned. Combined with the 40% income tax rate, this creates an effective marginal rate of 60% on earnings in this band. Making pension contributions in this range can be particularly tax-efficient.
How does National Insurance differ from Income Tax?
National Insurance is a social insurance contribution that funds state benefits including the State Pension, Statutory Sick Pay and Maternity Pay. Unlike Income Tax, NI is not affected by the personal allowance tapering — it applies at a flat rate above the Primary Threshold of £12,570.
Does the calculator work for contractors?
The calculator is designed for PAYE employees. Contractors operating through a limited company (inside or outside IR35) have a different tax structure. IR35 status significantly affects your effective tax rate as a contractor.
That's what you take home. Is it what you're worth?
Upload your CV and see your market rate for your role, free. The full CV audit shows exactly how to close the gap.
Rates: 2026/27 income tax and employee Class 1 National Insurance from HMRC; Scottish bands from the Scottish Budget 2026 to 2027; student loan thresholds from the Student Loans Company guide for 2026 to 2027. Estimate only: assumes the standard tax code (1257L) and no salary sacrifice.