£20,000 salary after tax in the UK
On a salary of £20,000 you pay £1,486 income tax and £594 National Insurance in 2026/27, which leaves £17,920 a year, £1,493 a month or £345 a week. Each extra £100 you earn at this level leaves you about £72.
- Take-home 89.6%
- Income tax 7.4%
- National Insurance 3.0%
| Item | Year | Month | Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £20,000.00 | £1,666.67 | £384.62 |
| Income tax | −£1,486.00 | −£123.83 | −£28.58 |
| National Insurance | −£594.40 | −£49.53 | −£11.43 |
| Take-home pay | £17,919.60 | £1,493.30 | £344.61 |
England, Wales or Northern Ireland, tax code 1257L, no pension or student loan, 2026/27. Add your student loan, pension or Scottish address.
How the £20,000 is taxed
Income tax
| Pay subject to income tax | £20,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | −£12,570.00 |
| Taxable income | £7,430.00 |
| Basic rate 20% on £7,430 | £1,486.00 |
| Income tax | £1,486.00 |
National Insurance
| 8% on £7,430 between £12,570 and £50,270 | £594.40 |
|---|---|
| 2% on £0 above £50,270 | £0.00 |
| National Insurance | £594.40 |
Employer
Your employer pays £2,250 employer National Insurance on top of your salary, so you cost £22,250 a year.
£20,000 after tax depending on your situation
| Situation | Per month | Per year | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| England, Wales or Northern Ireland | £1,493 | £17,920 | £0 |
| Scotland | £1,497 | £17,959 | +£40 |
| With a Plan 2 student loan | £1,493 | £17,920 | £0 |
| With Plan 2 and a Postgraduate Loan | £1,493 | £17,920 | £0 |
| With a Plan 5 student loan | £1,493 | £17,920 | £0 |
| 5% pension, net pay | £1,427 | £17,120 | −£800 |
| 5% pension, salary sacrifice | £1,433 | £17,200 | −£720 |
Pension rows show take-home pay; the money paid into your pension is still yours. Salary sacrifice also saves National Insurance. Scottish income tax explained.
Salaries near £20,000
| Gross salary | Take-home per year | Per month | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| £20,000 | £17,920 | £1,493 | 10.4% |
| £22,000 | £19,360 | £1,613 | 12.0% |
| £25,000 | £21,520 | £1,793 | 13.9% |
Estimates for the 2026/27 tax year with the official rates and thresholds, for a salary paid evenly over the year. Methodology and sources.