£20,000 after tax
What a £20,000 salary really pays each year, month and week in 2026/27, with and without a pension and student loan.
Take-home a year
£17,920
Take-home a month
£1,493.30
Take-home a week
£344.61
On a £20,000 salary in 2026/27 you pay £1,486 income tax and £594 National Insurance, leaving £17,920 a year. That is 90% of your gross pay. These figures are for England, Wales and Northern Ireland on the standard 1257L tax code.
The breakdown
| Year | Month | Week | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | £20,000 | £1,666.67 | £384.62 |
| Income tax | £1,486 | £123.83 | £28.58 |
| National Insurance | £594 | £49.53 | £11.43 |
| Take-home pay | £17,920 | £1,493.30 | £344.61 |
With a pension, student loan or in Scotland
Most people have at least one of these. Here is how each changes your monthly pay:
| Situation | Take-home a month | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| No pension or student loan | £1,493.30 | None |
| 5% pension (relief at source) | £1,426.63 | −£66.67 |
| 5% pension by salary sacrifice | £1,433.30 | −£60.00 |
| Plan 2 student loan | £1,493.30 | None |
| Living in Scotland | £1,496.61 | +£3.31 |
Pension figures assume 5% of your whole salary. With relief at source, £83.33 a month goes into your pension, but it only costs you £66.67. Salary sacrifice saves National Insurance too.
What to know at £20,000
- You are a basic rate taxpayer. Every pound you earn above £12,570 is taxed at 20%, plus 8% National Insurance.
- Of every extra £100 you earn, you keep about £72. A side hustle is taxed at the same rate: see the tax on side income examples.
Common questions
How much is £20,000 a month after tax?
£1,493.30 a month in 2026/27, with no pension or student loan, for someone in England, Wales or Northern Ireland on the standard tax code.
How much tax do I pay on £20,000?
£1,486 of income tax and £594 of National Insurance a year, £2,080 in total.
What is £20,000 a year per hour?
About £10.26 an hour before tax, or £9.19 after tax and National Insurance, based on 37.5 hours a week.
Assumes the standard 1257L tax code, no benefits in kind and no other income. Hourly figures use a 37.5-hour week. Sources: GOV.UK income tax rates, Scottish Government tax bands.
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