£21,000 after tax in the UK (2026/27)
On a £21,000 salary you take home £18,642 a year: £1,553.49 a month or £358.50 a week. You pay £1,684.20 income tax and £673.92 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
£1,553.49/ month
£18,642 a year from £21,000 · average rate 11.2% · next £1,000 keeps £720
Breakdown
| Year | Month | 4 weeks | Week | Day | Hour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | £21,000 | £1,750.00 | £1,615.38 | £403.85 | £80.77 | £10.77 |
| Income taxBasic rate 20%: £1,684.20 | −£1,684 | −£140.35 | −£129.55 | −£32.39 | −£6.48 | −£0.86 |
| National Insurance8% of pay between £1,048 and £4,189 per month, 2% above | −£674 | −£56.16 | −£51.84 | −£12.96 | −£2.59 | −£0.35 |
| Take-home pay | £18,642 | £1,553.49 | £1,433.99 | £358.50 | £71.70 | £9.56 |
| Employer National Insurance (not from your pay)15% of pay over £417 per period | £2,399 | £199.95 | £184.57 | £46.14 | £9.23 | £1.23 |
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 £21,000 sits in the tax system
All of your taxable income (£8,430) falls in the 20% basic-rate band. You would reach the 40% higher rate at £50,270, £29,270 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 £21,000 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 £21,000 is £18,039 (46%) 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 | £22,000 | £719.96 | £60.00 |
| 5% raise | £22,050 | £756.00 | £63.00 |
| 10% raise | £23,100 | £1,512.00 | £126.00 |
£21,000 with a student loan, pension or in Scotland
| Situation | Take-home a year | A month | Difference a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (England) | £18,641.88 | £1,553.49 | – |
| Scotland | £18,681.55 | £1,556.80 | £39.67 |
| Plan 1 student loan | £18,641.88 | £1,553.49 | £0 |
| Plan 2 student loan | £18,641.88 | £1,553.49 | £0 |
| Plan 5 student loan | £18,641.88 | £1,553.49 | £0 |
| Postgraduate Loan | £18,641.88 | £1,553.49 | £0 |
| 5% pension, salary sacrifice | £17,885.88 | £1,490.49 | −£756.00 |
| 5% pension, relief at source | £17,801.88 | £1,483.49 | −£840.00 |
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 £21,000
How much is £21,000 a month after tax?
£1,553.49 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 £1,556.80 a month.
How much tax do you pay on £21,000?
£1,684.20 income tax and £673.92 National Insurance a year, £2,358.12 in total. That is 11.2% of your salary.
What is £21,000 a year per hour?
£10.77 an hour before tax and £9.56 after tax, based on 37.5 hours a week for 52 weeks.
£21,000 in other countries
At the ECB reference rate for 16 October 2026, £21,000 is worth $40,243 in Australia, where you would keep $36,695 a year (about £19,148); $49,443 in New Zealand, where you would keep $41,017 a year (about £17,421); €24,886 in Ireland, where you would keep €22,537 a year (about £19,018); $39,656 in Canada, where you would keep $32,556 a year (about £17,240). This compares tax only, not living costs. Compare countries.
Nearby salaries
- £16,000 after tax
- £19,000 after tax
- £20,000 after tax
- £22,000 after tax
- £23,000 after tax
- £26,000 after tax
- £31,000 after tax
All UK salaries after tax · UK tax bands 2026/27 · National Insurance