Take-home pay breakdowns, tax explainers and career money guides — updated for the 2026/27 UK tax year.
A proposed UK pay transparency law could push employers to show salary information earlier in hiring, including on job adverts or before interviews. For applicants, an advertised salary range usually means the employer has set a lower and upper pay point for the role, with your offer likely depending on experience, skills, location and benefits.
The easiest way to find your student loan plan is by logging into your Student Loans Company (SLC) account or checking your repayment details. Your plan depends on where you lived when you applied for student finance and when you started your course. The most common plans are Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 4, Plan 5 and Postgraduate Loans, each with different repayment thresholds and rules.
10 Aug 2026
If you have a PAYE job and a side hustle, your extra income is added on top of your salary for tax. You only pay the higher tax rate on the part that falls into that band, not on all your income. Your take-home pay depends on your salary, side hustle profit, National Insurance and any student loan repayments.
7 Aug 2026
Take-home pay breakdowns for specific UK salary levels, from £20k to £150k+.
To take home £3,000 per month (£36,000 per year) in the UK for 2026/27, you need to earn about £45,112 gross per year — roughly £3,759 per month — assuming no pension contribution and no student loan. Add a 5% pension and the required gross rises to £47,486. Add Plan 2 student loan and it rises to £47,359.
6 Jul 2026
To take home £2,500 per month (£30,000 per year) in the UK for 2026/27, you need to earn about £36,778 gross per year — roughly £3,065 per month — assuming no pension contribution and no student loan. Add a 5% pension and the required gross rises to £38,714. Add Plan 2 student loan and it rises to £37,834.
6 Jul 2026
To take home £2,000 per month (£24,000 per year) in the UK for 2026/27, you need to earn about £28,445 gross per year — roughly £2,370 per month — assuming no pension contribution and no student loan. Add a 5% pension and the required gross rises to £29,942. Add Plan 2 student loan and it rises to £28,445.
6 Jul 2026
How UK Income Tax and National Insurance work in 2026/27 — bands, thresholds, and worked examples.
A benefit in kind is a non-cash perk from your employer, such as private medical insurance or a company car, that can be taxable. HMRC often collects the tax by reducing your tax-free allowance in your tax code, which means more tax is taken from your salary through PAYE.
8 Aug 2026
Your tax code tells your employer or pension provider how much tax-free income to give you before deducting PAYE tax. A common code is 1257L, which usually means the standard £12,570 Personal Allowance for 2026/27. If your pay, benefits, pension or second job has changed, it is worth checking the code is still right.
28 Jul 2026
An emergency tax code means your employer does not yet have the right tax details for you, so PAYE uses a temporary code to tax your pay. It often happens when you start a new job or get taxable pay from a new source. If too much tax is taken, the refund is usually made through payroll or by HMRC.
28 Jul 2026
Workplace pensions, salary sacrifice, and how contributions affect your take-home.
For most UK employees, a workplace pension is the starting point because your employer usually pays in too. A SIPP can suit you if you want more investment choice or extra pension saving alongside work. The best fit depends on employer contributions, fees, flexibility and how you claim tax relief.
28 Jul 2026
Pension contributions can reduce the amount of income tax you pay because most contributions receive tax relief. If you pay into a workplace or personal pension, some or all of your contributions may be made before income tax is calculated or receive tax relief afterwards. Employer contributions are also tax-efficient and do not count as taxable income. Contributing more to your pension can reduce your taxable income and, in some cases, keep you in a lower tax band.
11 Jul 2026
Plan 1, 2, 4, 5 and Postgrad — thresholds, repayment rates, and what you'll actually pay.
The easiest way to find your student loan plan is by logging into your Student Loans Company (SLC) account or checking your repayment details. Your plan depends on where you lived when you applied for student finance and when you started your course. The most common plans are Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 4, Plan 5 and Postgraduate Loans, each with different repayment thresholds and rules.
10 Aug 2026
Plan 5 is the newer English undergraduate student loan plan for newer starters. Plan 2 is the older English undergraduate plan. In 2026/27, both repay at 9% above the threshold, but Plan 2 starts at £29,385 and Plan 5 starts at £25,000, so Plan 5 repayments usually begin sooner.
8 Aug 2026
Yes. A UK Postgraduate Loan can reduce your take-home pay because repayments are taken from salary through PAYE at 6% of earnings above £21,000 in 2026/27. It does not reduce your gross salary, tax band or National Insurance rate, but it does lower the amount you receive after deductions.
8 Aug 2026
Salary negotiation, comparing job offers, and career moves — with the numbers to back them up.
A proposed UK pay transparency law could push employers to show salary information earlier in hiring, including on job adverts or before interviews. For applicants, an advertised salary range usually means the employer has set a lower and upper pay point for the role, with your offer likely depending on experience, skills, location and benefits.
10 Aug 2026
Yes. You can have more than one job at once in the UK. There is no general rule stopping you, but your tax code, PAYE deductions, National Insurance and student loan repayments can work differently across each job, so your total take-home pay may not be as simple as adding two payslips together.
8 Aug 2026
You do not automatically pay a higher tax rate just because you have two jobs. You pay tax based on your total taxable income for the 2026/27 tax year, while your Personal Allowance is usually given to one job and your second job is often taxed using a BR, D0 or D1 code.
7 Aug 2026
Longer explainers and reference pieces on UK pay and personal finance.
Benefits in kind are non-cash perks from your employer that can increase the tax you pay. Common examples include company cars, private medical insurance and cheap or interest-free loans. Some schemes, like Cycle to Work, can be tax-efficient, but the effect on your pay depends on how the benefit is set up.
8 Aug 2026
Yes. Share options can change how much tax you pay, but the tax point is usually when you exercise the option, sell the shares, or both. Whether you pay Income Tax and National Insurance depends on the type of scheme and how the option price compares with the shares’ market value.
8 Aug 2026
If you have a PAYE job and a side hustle, your extra income is added on top of your salary for tax. You only pay the higher tax rate on the part that falls into that band, not on all your income. Your take-home pay depends on your salary, side hustle profit, National Insurance and any student loan repayments.
7 Aug 2026
A proposed UK pay transparency law could push employers to show salary information earlier in hiring, including on job adverts or before interviews. For applicants, an advertised salary range usually means the employer has set a lower and upper pay point for the role, with your offer likely depending on experience, skills, location and benefits.
10 Aug 2026
The easiest way to find your student loan plan is by logging into your Student Loans Company (SLC) account or checking your repayment details. Your plan depends on where you lived when you applied for student finance and when you started your course. The most common plans are Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 4, Plan 5 and Postgraduate Loans, each with different repayment thresholds and rules.
10 Aug 2026
Benefits in kind are non-cash perks from your employer that can increase the tax you pay. Common examples include company cars, private medical insurance and cheap or interest-free loans. Some schemes, like Cycle to Work, can be tax-efficient, but the effect on your pay depends on how the benefit is set up.
8 Aug 2026
Plan 5 is the newer English undergraduate student loan plan for newer starters. Plan 2 is the older English undergraduate plan. In 2026/27, both repay at 9% above the threshold, but Plan 2 starts at £29,385 and Plan 5 starts at £25,000, so Plan 5 repayments usually begin sooner.
8 Aug 2026
Yes. A UK Postgraduate Loan can reduce your take-home pay because repayments are taken from salary through PAYE at 6% of earnings above £21,000 in 2026/27. It does not reduce your gross salary, tax band or National Insurance rate, but it does lower the amount you receive after deductions.
8 Aug 2026
A Plan 5 student loan is a UK student loan repayment plan used for some newer undergraduate borrowers in England. In 2026/27, you repay 9% of earnings above £25,000. Repayments usually come through PAYE, so the amount taken depends on your income, not the size of your loan balance.
8 Aug 2026
Yes. Share options can change how much tax you pay, but the tax point is usually when you exercise the option, sell the shares, or both. Whether you pay Income Tax and National Insurance depends on the type of scheme and how the option price compares with the shares’ market value.
8 Aug 2026
Yes. You can have more than one job at once in the UK. There is no general rule stopping you, but your tax code, PAYE deductions, National Insurance and student loan repayments can work differently across each job, so your total take-home pay may not be as simple as adding two payslips together.
8 Aug 2026
A benefit in kind is a non-cash perk from your employer, such as private medical insurance or a company car, that can be taxable. HMRC often collects the tax by reducing your tax-free allowance in your tax code, which means more tax is taken from your salary through PAYE.
8 Aug 2026
If you have a PAYE job and a side hustle, your extra income is added on top of your salary for tax. You only pay the higher tax rate on the part that falls into that band, not on all your income. Your take-home pay depends on your salary, side hustle profit, National Insurance and any student loan repayments.
7 Aug 2026
If your side hustle income is more than £1,000 in a tax year, you may need to register for Self Assessment and report it to HMRC. If it is £1,000 or less, the trading allowance may mean you do not need to file, but it depends on how you earned the money and your wider tax position.
7 Aug 2026
You do not automatically pay a higher tax rate just because you have two jobs. You pay tax based on your total taxable income for the 2026/27 tax year, while your Personal Allowance is usually given to one job and your second job is often taxed using a BR, D0 or D1 code.
7 Aug 2026
UK payslip codes and abbreviations show how your employer has worked out your pay, tax, National Insurance and other deductions. The most important ones are your tax code, NI category letter, pay period details, pension entries and any student loan deductions, because these affect your net pay.
28 Jul 2026
Using take-home pay figures can make a salary increase request clearer because it shows what a pay rise is actually worth after Income Tax, National Insurance and any student loan deductions. The strongest approach is to lead with your value, then use net pay numbers to explain why a specific gross salary increase is meaningful.
28 Jul 2026
Notice pay, holiday pay and your final salary are usually taxed in the same way as normal wages through PAYE. That means Income Tax, employee National Insurance, and sometimes student loan deductions can all apply. Your last payslip can look heavily taxed if several payments are bundled into one payroll run.
28 Jul 2026
Your tax code tells your employer or pension provider how much tax-free income to give you before deducting PAYE tax. A common code is 1257L, which usually means the standard £12,570 Personal Allowance for 2026/27. If your pay, benefits, pension or second job has changed, it is worth checking the code is still right.
28 Jul 2026
For most UK employees, a workplace pension is the starting point because your employer usually pays in too. A SIPP can suit you if you want more investment choice or extra pension saving alongside work. The best fit depends on employer contributions, fees, flexibility and how you claim tax relief.
28 Jul 2026
An emergency tax code means your employer does not yet have the right tax details for you, so PAYE uses a temporary code to tax your pay. It often happens when you start a new job or get taxable pay from a new source. If too much tax is taken, the refund is usually made through payroll or by HMRC.
28 Jul 2026
A UK tax refund means you paid more Income Tax than you owed, usually because your tax code, pay, or job situation changed during the tax year. You can check by reviewing your payslips, P60 and HMRC online account, then comparing the tax deducted with what should have been paid.
27 Jul 2026
Your UK payslip deductions usually include Income Tax, employee National Insurance, workplace pension contributions and sometimes student loan repayments. The exact amounts depend on your gross pay, tax code, pay frequency and any benefits or salary sacrifice arrangements, so two people on the same salary can still take home different amounts.
26 Jul 2026
Not everyone will pay off their UK student loan in full. Whether you repay the entire balance depends on your repayment plan, salary, career earnings and how long you're required to make repayments. If you don't repay the full amount before your loan's write-off date, the remaining balance is usually cancelled, provided you meet the terms of your loan.
11 Jul 2026
Comparing two salaries isn't just about which offers the highest annual pay. Income tax, National Insurance, pension contributions, student loans and other deductions all affect your take-home pay. Comparing your net income, rather than your gross salary, gives a much clearer picture of which job leaves you better off financially.
11 Jul 2026
Pension contributions can reduce the amount of income tax you pay because most contributions receive tax relief. If you pay into a workplace or personal pension, some or all of your contributions may be made before income tax is calculated or receive tax relief afterwards. Employer contributions are also tax-efficient and do not count as taxable income. Contributing more to your pension can reduce your taxable income and, in some cases, keep you in a lower tax band.
11 Jul 2026
To take home £3,000 per month (£36,000 per year) in the UK for 2026/27, you need to earn about £45,112 gross per year — roughly £3,759 per month — assuming no pension contribution and no student loan. Add a 5% pension and the required gross rises to £47,486. Add Plan 2 student loan and it rises to £47,359.
6 Jul 2026
To take home £2,500 per month (£30,000 per year) in the UK for 2026/27, you need to earn about £36,778 gross per year — roughly £3,065 per month — assuming no pension contribution and no student loan. Add a 5% pension and the required gross rises to £38,714. Add Plan 2 student loan and it rises to £37,834.
6 Jul 2026
To take home £2,000 per month (£24,000 per year) in the UK for 2026/27, you need to earn about £28,445 gross per year — roughly £2,370 per month — assuming no pension contribution and no student loan. Add a 5% pension and the required gross rises to £29,942. Add Plan 2 student loan and it rises to £28,445.
6 Jul 2026
To take home £1,500 per month (£18,000 per year) in the UK for 2026/27, you need to earn about £20,112 gross per year — roughly £1,676 per month — assuming no pension contribution and no student loan. Add a 5% pension and the required gross rises to £21,170. Add Plan 2 student loan and it rises to £20,112.
6 Jul 2026
£40,000 in Manchester is above the UK median of about £37,430 (7% higher). After Income Tax and National Insurance for 2026/27, that's about £2,693 per month take-home. In practice it's comfortable outside London and Edinburgh; tight in central London.
5 Jul 2026
The £100k tax trap happens when your income exceeds £100,000. At this point, you begin to lose your Personal Allowance, which increases the amount of your income that is taxed. Between £100,000 and £125,140, many people face an effective tax rate of around 60%, even though there is no official 60% tax band.
5 Jul 2026
For the 2026/27 tax year: * Personal Allowance: £12,570 (most people pay no Income Tax on earnings up to this amount). * Basic rate tax: 20% on taxable income from £12,571 to £50,270. * Higher rate tax: 40% on taxable income from £50,271 to £125,140. * Additional rate tax: 45% on taxable income over £125,140. * The Personal Allowance is gradually reduced once income exceeds £100,000, meaning many people effectively pay a higher rate between £100,000 and £125,140.
5 Jul 2026
£90,000 in London is above the UK median of about £37,430 (140% higher). After Income Tax and National Insurance for 2026/27, that's about £5,230 per month take-home. In practice it's comfortable across most of the UK, including London.
3 Jul 2026
£80,000 in London is above the UK median of about £37,430 (114% higher). After Income Tax and National Insurance for 2026/27, that's about £4,746 per month take-home. In practice it's comfortable across most of the UK, including London.
3 Jul 2026
£70,000 in London is above the UK median of about £37,430 (87% higher). After Income Tax and National Insurance for 2026/27, that's about £4,263 per month take-home. In practice it's comfortable across most of the UK, including London.
3 Jul 2026
£60,000 in London is above the UK median of about £37,430 (60% higher). After Income Tax and National Insurance for 2026/27, that's about £3,780 per month take-home. In practice it's comfortable across most of the UK, including London.
3 Jul 2026
£50,000 in London is above the UK median of about £37,430 (34% higher). After Income Tax and National Insurance for 2026/27, that's about £3,293 per month take-home. In practice it's comfortable outside London and Edinburgh; tight in central London.
3 Jul 2026
£40,000 in London is above the UK median of about £37,430 (7% higher). After Income Tax and National Insurance for 2026/27, that's about £2,693 per month take-home. In practice it's comfortable outside London and Edinburgh; tight in central London.
3 Jul 2026
£30,000 in London is below the UK median of about £37,430 (20% lower). After Income Tax and National Insurance for 2026/27, that's about £2,093 per month take-home. In practice it's manageable in lower-cost regions; stretched in big cities.
3 Jul 2026
On a £33,000 gross salary in the UK (2026/27 tax year), you take home about £27,280 per year — that's £2,273 per month — after £4,086 Income Tax and £1,634 National Insurance. Contribute 5% to a pension and take-home becomes £2,174 per month.
2 Jul 2026
On a £32,000 gross salary in the UK (2026/27 tax year), you take home about £26,560 per year — that's £2,213 per month — after £3,886 Income Tax and £1,554 National Insurance. Contribute 5% to a pension and take-home becomes £2,117 per month.
2 Jul 2026
On a £31,000 gross salary in the UK (2026/27 tax year), you take home about £25,840 per year — that's £2,153 per month — after £3,686 Income Tax and £1,474 National Insurance. Contribute 5% to a pension and take-home becomes £2,060 per month.
2 Jul 2026
On a £90,000 gross salary in the UK (2026/27 tax year), you take home about £62,757 per year — that's £5,230 per month — after £23,432 Income Tax and £3,811 National Insurance. Contribute 5% to a pension and take-home becomes £5,012 per month.
2 Jul 2026
On a £80,000 gross salary in the UK (2026/27 tax year), you take home about £56,957 per year — that's £4,746 per month — after £19,432 Income Tax and £3,611 National Insurance. Contribute 5% to a pension and take-home becomes £4,553 per month.
2 Jul 2026
On a £30,000 gross salary in the UK (2026/27 tax year), you take home about £25,120 per year — that's £2,093 per month — after £3,486 Income Tax and £1,394 National Insurance. Contribute 5% to a pension and take-home becomes £2,003 per month.
2 Jul 2026
On a £40,000 gross salary in the UK (2025/26 tax year), you take home about £32,320 per year - that's £2,693 per month - after £5,486 Income Tax and £2,194 National Insurance. Contribute 5% to a pension and take-home becomes £2,573 per month.
1 Jul 2026
On a £37,000 gross salary in the UK (2025/26 tax year), you take home about £30,160 per year — that's £2,513 per month — after £4,886 Income Tax and £1,954 National Insurance. Contribute 5% to a pension and take-home becomes £2,402 per month.
1 Jul 2026
On a £50,000 gross salary in the UK (2026/27 tax year), you take home about £39,520 per year — that's £3,293 per month — after £7,486 Income Tax and £2,994 National Insurance. Contribute 5% to a pension and take-home becomes £3,143 per month.
1 Jul 2026
On a £60,000 gross salary in the UK (2026/27 tax year), you take home about £45,357 per year — that's £3,780 per month — after £11,432 Income Tax and £3,211 National Insurance. Contribute 5% to a pension and take-home becomes £3,635 per month.
1 Jul 2026
On a £70,000 gross salary in the UK (2026/27 tax year), you take home about £51,157 per year — that's £4,263 per month — after £15,432 Income Tax and £3,411 National Insurance. Contribute 5% to a pension and take-home becomes £4,094 per month.
1 Jul 2026
£50,000 in the UK is above the UK median of about £37,430 (34% higher). After Income Tax and National Insurance for 2025/26, that's about £3,293 per month take-home. In practice it's comfortable outside London and Edinburgh; tight in central London.
30 Jun 2026