Take-home Salary Calculator - UK

The average salary in the UK is £2,934 per month, or £35,204 per year before tax, according to ONS and HMRC. However, averages can be skewed by high-income earners. For a more reliable estimate, we can look at the median gross salary figures across the UK listed in the table below.

Source: GOV.UK, Earnings and Employment (Median Figures, April 2024)

The UK enforces a National Living Wage of £11.44 per hour for workers aged over 21, and a National Minimum Wage for those of at least school-leaving age: £8.60 per hour for ages 18 to 20, and £6.40 per hour for those under 18 and apprentices.

Assuming a 37.5-hour work week, the National Living Wage for a 21-year-old is £22,308 a year. According to our UK calculator, this translates to a monthly pay of £1,632 after tax.

If you are employed in the UK, then you usually pay all your taxes through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) scheme. This means that your employer will automatically deduct income tax, National Insurance contributions, and any student loan repayments from your gross salary.

If your taxes are collected through PAYE, then you generally don’t have to file a tax return, but it’s important to note that your employer figures out your tax liability based on your P45 form. If you’re self-employed, then you need to complete a self-assessment tax return.

• Income Tax: The UK income tax system is based on marginal tax rates, so your total taxes due will depend on how much of your income falls within each tax band. For more details, including differences in taxation for Scotland compared to England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, please refer to the official government Income Tax page.
• National Insurance (NI): If you’re older than 16 and are making more than £242 a week, then you have to make an NI contribution. These contributions qualify you for State Pension and additional benefits, like Jobseeker’s Allowance.
• Student Loan: If you have a UK student loan, after you complete your studies and earn over a certain threshold, you must start repaying your loan. Your assigned repayment plan, which depends on when and where you took out the loan, determines the repayment rate and threshold.
• Workplace Pension: If you’re employed in the UK, you likely participate in an “auto-enrolment” workplace pension scheme. A minimum of 8% of your qualifying gross earnings goes into this scheme, with your employer contributing at least 3%. You can choose to increase your contribution, and your employer will typically match it. Additionally, you benefit from tax relief, with investments growing tax-free until retirement.
• Child Benefit: This benefit provides financial support for raising children. You’ll receive £25.60 a week for your first child and £16.95 for each additional child. You can claim it if you’re responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 if in education or training). If your adjusted taxable income exceeds £60,000 per year, your benefit reduces by 1% for every £200 over the threshold.