🇬🇧 UK · 2026/27 tax year

£20,000 after tax — UK take-home pay 2026/27

A £20,000 salary in the UK leaves £17,920 a year after tax and National Insurance in 2026/27 — about £1,493 a month or £345 a week. Total deductions are £2,080 (£1,486 income tax + £594 NI), an effective rate of 10.4%.

DATA VERIFIED 2026/27 verified 2026-06-11 3 primary sources next review 2026-09-15
£20,000 salary breakdown — England, Wales & NI
Line Yearly Monthly Weekly
Gross salary £20,000 £1,667 £385
Income tax −£1,486 −£124 −£29
National Insurance −£594 −£50 −£11
Take-home pay £17,920 £1,493 £345
You keepIncome taxNational Insurance

What this means in practice

Of every £100 you earn at this level, you keep £90. You are a basic-rate taxpayer: each extra £1 loses 28p to tax and NI combined. Compare this salary in Germany or India.

Common questions

Is £20,000 a year a good salary in the UK? +

It depends on region and household, but for context the UK median full-time salary is around £37,000–£38,000. £20,000 is below that, and after tax it provides £1,493 a month in 2026/27 (England, Wales & NI).

How much tax do I pay on £20,000? +

Income tax of £1,486 plus £594 employee National Insurance — 10.4% of your gross salary in total deductions for 2026/27.

What is £20,000 a year per hour? +

Assuming a 37.5-hour week, £20,000 gross is about £10.26 an hour before tax, or roughly £9.19 an hour after tax and NI.

Sources & method. Personal allowance frozen at £12,570 (due to remain to 2030/31). Employee NI main rate 8% between £12,570–£50,270, 2% above. Excludes student loans, pension salary sacrifice, Scottish rates.
  1. House of Commons Library CBP-10618 — Direct taxes: rates and allowances 2026/27
  2. GOV.UK — Income Tax rates and Personal Allowances
  3. GOV.UK — National Insurance rates and categories