Salary / take-home pay calculator
Estimate UK take-home pay after Income Tax, National Insurance, pension and student loans. Monthly, weekly and annual breakdown. Guide only.
- Tax and NI are calculated from simplified annual bands.
- Category A National Insurance (typical employee NI).
- No benefits-in-kind, salary deductions, or employer adjustments.
- Tax code is treated as an allowance indicator (estimate).
Your details
Enter your gross salary and choose the breakdown you want to view.
Results
Numbers update when you press Calculate.
View full breakdown
Per selected period
| Gross | – |
| Income Tax | – |
| National Insurance | – |
| Student loan | – |
| Pension | – |
| Net (take-home) | – |
Annual totals
| Gross | – |
| Income Tax | – |
| National Insurance | – |
| Student loan | – |
| Pension | – |
| Net (take-home) | – |
Guide only. This won’t match every payroll edge case.
Assumptions and interpretation
Use this as a planning estimate. Real payroll can differ based on tax code details, pay frequency rules, and employer deductions.
This calculator models Income Tax and employee National Insurance using simplified annual thresholds. It assumes Category A NI and does not include benefits-in-kind, childcare vouchers, cycle to work, salary deductions, or employer-specific payroll rules.
Tax code parsing is simplified: the leading number is treated as an annual allowance. If your tax code includes adjustments, your actual take-home pay can be higher or lower.
If you’re using the results for affordability checks, consider leaving a buffer for changes in tax year thresholds and any pension / student loan plan updates.
How to use this tool
Quick steps to get a realistic estimate, plus options that affect take-home pay the most.
Start with your gross annual salary. If you’re paid monthly, pick “Monthly” so the headline numbers match your payslip view. If you’re comparing job offers, use “Annual” to see totals.
If you contribute to a pension, choose the pension treatment that matches your scheme. Salary sacrifice typically reduces both Income Tax and NI, while relief at source reduces take-home but adds tax relief inside the pension.
If you have a student loan, select the correct plan and add postgraduate loan if relevant. Student loan repayments are based on income above thresholds and can materially change your net pay at higher salaries.
FAQs
Common questions about UK take-home pay, deductions, and why estimates can differ from your payslip.
Why doesn’t this exactly match my payslip?
Payroll can include items this tool doesn’t model, such as benefits-in-kind, pre-tax benefits, salary deductions, varying pay periods, and non-Category A NI categories. Tax codes can also include adjustments that change PAYE.
Which pension option should I choose?
If your pension is deducted before tax, choose net pay. If you contribute after tax and the provider claims tax relief, choose relief at source. If your employer runs salary sacrifice, choose salary sacrifice.
What tax code should I enter?
Use the tax code shown on your payslip. The calculator treats the leading number as your allowance. Codes with adjustments can differ in practice, so treat results as an estimate.
Does Scotland have different bands?
Yes. Scotland has different Income Tax bands and rates for non-savings income. National Insurance is UK-wide, but Income Tax differs based on your tax residency.
How are student loans calculated?
Repayments are a percentage of income above the plan threshold, plus an additional percentage for postgraduate loans. Actual payroll may calculate per pay period, so monthly/weekly deductions can vary.
Can I use this for bonuses or overtime?
You can add bonuses to the gross annual salary to estimate the overall annual impact. In reality, PAYE can treat one-off payments differently within the year, so your monthly take-home may fluctuate.