£18,000 after tax in the UK (2026/27)
On a £18,000 salary you take home £16,482 a year: £1,373.49 a month or £316.96 a week. You pay £1,084.20 income tax and £433.92 National Insurance.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland, tax code 1257L, paid monthly, no student loan or pension. Change anything below.
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Your take-home pay
£1,373.49/ month
£16,482 a year from £18,000 · average rate 8.4% · next £1,000 keeps £720
Breakdown
| Year | Month | 4 weeks | Week | Day | Hour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | £18,000 | £1,500.00 | £1,384.62 | £346.15 | £69.23 | £9.23 |
| Income taxBasic rate 20%: £1,084.20 | −£1,084 | −£90.35 | −£83.40 | −£20.85 | −£4.17 | −£0.56 |
| National Insurance8% of pay between £1,048 and £4,189 per month, 2% above | −£434 | −£36.16 | −£33.38 | −£8.34 | −£1.67 | −£0.22 |
| Take-home pay | £16,482 | £1,373.49 | £1,267.84 | £316.96 | £63.39 | £8.45 |
| Employer National Insurance (not from your pay)15% of pay over £417 per period | £1,949 | £162.45 | £149.95 | £37.49 | £7.50 | £1.00 |
Rates checked 19 October 2026 against HMRC for the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 – 5 April 2027). How we calculate · Sources · Accuracy tests · Report an error
Estimate for information only, based on United Kingdom 2026/27 rates. Not tax or financial advice. Your payslip may differ (for example tax code, benefits or other deductions).
Where £18,000 sits in the tax system
All of your taxable income (£5,430) falls in the 20% basic-rate band. You would reach the 40% higher rate at £50,270, £32,270 above this salary.
National Insurance is 8% of your pay above £12,570 a year (worked out monthly against £1,048).
Of the next £1,000 you earn, you keep £720 (a combined marginal rate of 28.0%).
Is £18,000 a good salary?
It depends on where you live and your costs, but here is how it compares with official figures. The median gross annual earnings for full-time employees was £39,039 in April 2025, so £18,000 is £21,039 (54%) below it. Half of full-time employees earn more than the median and half earn less.
Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 (provisional).
What a pay rise is worth
| Rise | New salary | Extra take-home a year | A month |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1,000 raise | £19,000 | £719.96 | £60.00 |
| 5% raise | £18,900 | £648.00 | £54.00 |
| 10% raise | £19,800 | £1,296.00 | £108.00 |
£18,000 with a student loan, pension or in Scotland
| Situation | Take-home a year | A month | Difference a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (England) | £16,481.88 | £1,373.49 | – |
| Scotland | £16,521.55 | £1,376.80 | £39.67 |
| Plan 1 student loan | £16,481.88 | £1,373.49 | £0 |
| Plan 2 student loan | £16,481.88 | £1,373.49 | £0 |
| Plan 5 student loan | £16,481.88 | £1,373.49 | £0 |
| Postgraduate Loan | £16,481.88 | £1,373.49 | £0 |
| 5% pension, salary sacrifice | £15,833.88 | £1,319.49 | −£648.00 |
| 5% pension, relief at source | £15,761.88 | £1,313.49 | −£720.00 |
Student loan thresholds for 2026/27: Plan 1 £26,900, Plan 2 £29,385, Plan 4 £33,795, Plan 5 £25,000, Postgraduate £21,000. Pension figures assume 5% of your whole salary. Student loans explained.
Questions about £18,000
How much is £18,000 a month after tax?
£1,373.49 a month in England, Wales or Northern Ireland in 2026/27, with tax code 1257L, no student loan and no pension contribution. In Scotland it is £1,376.80 a month.
How much tax do you pay on £18,000?
£1,084.20 income tax and £433.92 National Insurance a year, £1,518.12 in total. That is 8.4% of your salary.
What is £18,000 a year per hour?
£9.23 an hour before tax and £8.45 after tax, based on 37.5 hours a week for 52 weeks.
£18,000 in other countries
At the ECB reference rate for 16 October 2026, £18,000 is worth $34,494 in Australia, where you would keep $32,102 a year (about £16,752); $42,380 in New Zealand, where you would keep $35,314 a year (about £14,999); €21,331 in Ireland, where you would keep €20,034 a year (about £16,906); $33,991 in Canada, where you would keep $28,468 a year (about £15,075). This compares tax only, not living costs. Compare countries.
Nearby salaries
- £16,000 after tax
- £17,000 after tax
- £19,000 after tax
- £20,000 after tax
- £23,000 after tax
- £28,000 after tax
All UK salaries after tax · UK tax bands 2026/27 · National Insurance