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What's Left, step 1 of 7: What will I take home?

Required salary calculator

Work backwards from the monthly take-home pay you want to the salary you need to ask for.

2026/27 tax yearEngland, Wales and Northern IrelandRates checked

By the ComputeNow team, checked against GOV.UK and HMRCSources (3)How we calculate

What you want landing in your account.

That is per
Where you live

Choose Scotland if your tax code starts with S.

We've assumed the usual tax code (1257L), no pension and no student loan. Change these under More options.

More optionsPension, student loan, tax code, National Insurance category, Blind Person's Allowance

Your workplace pension. Optional.

A month, if you pay a fixed amount. Optional.

How your pension is paid

Not sure? Ask your employer.

Pension percentage is of

Many schemes use pay between £6,240 and £50,270.

More than one plan? Choose the one with the lowest threshold.

From your payslip, for example 1257L.

The letter on your payslip. Most people are A.

Adds £3,250 to your tax-free allowance. If it is already in your tax code, leave this unticked.

No sign-up. No bank login. What you type stays in your browser.

You need to earn

£36,778.33

a year before tax to take home £2,500 a month.

Where your money goes

  • Income Tax£403 a monthYou pay no tax on the first £12,570 a year, your tax-free allowance. Above that, most pay is taxed at 20%.
  • National Insurance£161 a month8% of what you earn between £12,570 and £50,270 a year, and 2% above that. It builds your State Pension.

Where £36,778 goes

  • Take-home  £30,000.00 (82%)
  • Income Tax  £4,841.67 (13%)
  • National Insurance  £1,936.67 (5%)
See every line
YearMonth
Salary needed£36,778.33£3,064.86
Income Tax£4,841.67£403.47
National Insurance£1,936.67£161.39
Take-home pay£30,000.00£2,500.00

This is an estimate. Your payslip can be a little different because of how your employer rounds figures or when deductions are taken. We've assumed 2026/27 rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a standard tax code, no pension and no student loan; change these under More options.

Next steps

What's Left adds up your monthly figures from each calculator and shows what is left each month.

You need to earn £36,778.33Breakdown

Why your payslip might differ

Your payslip can be different from this if:

For hours or pay, ask your payroll team. For a tax code, ask HMRC. Why is my pay different this month?

How we work backwards

Below £50,270, every extra pound of salary over £12,570 loses 28p to tax and National Insurance. So we add back what those deductions will take until the take-home pay matches your target.

Use the result as the minimum to ask for in a job offer or pay review.

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Take-home pay calculatorYour pay after Income Tax and NICompare two salariesSee the difference after taxSalary after taxEvery salary from £15,000 to £150,000

Guides and help

Our guides

How Income Tax bands work in 2026/27Personal Allowance, basic, higher and additional rateNational Insurance in 2026/27Rates, thresholds, category letters and salary sacrificeThe 60% tax trapWhy income over £100,000 is taxed at 60%, and what to do

Official services and free advice

Check your Income Tax for this yearGOV.UK: your tax code and pay so farTax codes explainedGOV.UK: what yours means, and fixing a wrong one

Sources

Each source was last checked on .

These results are an estimate, not financial advice. They use the 2026/27 rates in force on 24 October 2026 and the inputs shown, so your actual tax, pay or costs may differ. Before making a decision about your money, check the figures with HMRC or your provider, or speak to a regulated financial adviser. Free, impartial guidance is available from MoneyHelper.

This page explains the rules using the 2026/27 rates in force on 24 October 2026. It is general information, not financial advice. For decisions about your own money, speak to a regulated financial adviser, or get free, impartial guidance from MoneyHelper.