£20,000 after tax in the UK (2026/27)
On a £20,000 salary you take home £17,922 a year: £1,493.49 a month or £344.65 a week. You pay £1,484.20 income tax and £593.88 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
£1,493.49/ month
£17,922 a year from £20,000 · average rate 10.4% · next £1,000 keeps £720
Breakdown
| Year | Month | 4 weeks | Week | Day | Hour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | £20,000 | £1,666.67 | £1,538.46 | £384.62 | £76.92 | £10.26 |
| Income taxBasic rate 20%: £1,484.20 | −£1,484 | −£123.68 | −£114.17 | −£28.54 | −£5.71 | −£0.76 |
| National Insurance8% of pay between £1,048 and £4,189 per month, 2% above | −£594 | −£49.49 | −£45.68 | −£11.42 | −£2.28 | −£0.30 |
| Take-home pay | £17,922 | £1,493.49 | £1,378.61 | £344.65 | £68.93 | £9.19 |
| Employer National Insurance (not from your pay)15% of pay over £417 per period | £2,249 | £187.45 | £173.03 | £43.26 | £8.65 | £1.15 |
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 £20,000 sits in the tax system
All of your taxable income (£7,430) falls in the 20% basic-rate band. You would reach the 40% higher rate at £50,270, £30,270 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 £20,000 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 £20,000 is £19,039 (49%) 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 | £21,000 | £719.96 | £60.00 |
| 5% raise | £21,000 | £719.96 | £60.00 |
| 10% raise | £22,000 | £1,439.92 | £119.99 |
£20,000 with a student loan, pension or in Scotland
| Situation | Take-home a year | A month | Difference a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (England) | £17,921.92 | £1,493.49 | – |
| Scotland | £17,961.59 | £1,496.80 | £39.67 |
| Plan 1 student loan | £17,921.92 | £1,493.49 | £0 |
| Plan 2 student loan | £17,921.92 | £1,493.49 | £0 |
| Plan 5 student loan | £17,921.92 | £1,493.49 | £0 |
| Postgraduate Loan | £17,921.92 | £1,493.49 | £0 |
| 5% pension, salary sacrifice | £17,201.84 | £1,433.49 | −£720.08 |
| 5% pension, relief at source | £17,121.92 | £1,426.83 | −£800.00 |
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 £20,000
How much is £20,000 a month after tax?
£1,493.49 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 £1,496.80 a month.
How much tax do you pay on £20,000?
£1,484.20 income tax and £593.88 National Insurance a year, £2,078.08 in total. That is 10.4% of your salary.
What is £20,000 a year per hour?
£10.26 an hour before tax and £9.19 after tax, based on 37.5 hours a week for 52 weeks.
£20,000 in other countries
At the ECB reference rate for 16 October 2026, £20,000 is worth $38,327 in Australia, where you would keep $35,200 a year (about £18,368); $47,089 in New Zealand, where you would keep $39,117 a year (about £16,614); €23,701 in Ireland, where you would keep €21,663 a year (about £18,280); $37,767 in Canada, where you would keep $31,207 a year (about £16,526). This compares tax only, not living costs. Compare countries.
Nearby salaries
- £15,000 after tax
- £18,000 after tax
- £19,000 after tax
- £21,000 after tax
- £22,000 after tax
- £25,000 after tax
- £30,000 after tax
All UK salaries after tax · UK tax bands 2026/27 · National Insurance