£30K After Tax UK: Take-Home Pay Breakdown + Free Calculator (2026 Guide)
1. Introduction
When you see a job posting for £30,000, what really matters is not the headline figure but how much actually lands in your bank account each month. Understanding “30k after tax UK” means knowing your real take-home pay after Income Tax, National Insurance, and any other deductions are removed from your gross salary.
Your take-home pay matters more than your gross salary because it determines your actual spending power and quality of life. The difference between gross and net can be substantial, and many people are surprised when they receive their first payslip only to discover it’s considerably less than expected.
The exact amount you take home from a £30,000 salary varies significantly depending on several factors:
- Your tax code – Most people have the standard 1257L code, but yours may differ based on your circumstances
- Pension contributions – Workplace pensions reduce your take-home but save on tax
- Student loan type – Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 4, Plan 5, or Postgraduate loans all have different thresholds and rates
- Location – Scotland has different tax bands compared to England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
2. £30,000 After Tax – Quick Answer (Standard Scenario)
Standard Scenario Assumptions
- Tax Code: 1257L (standard personal allowance)
- No pension contributions
- No student loan repayments
- Living in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland
Note: This is based on the 2025/2026 tax year rates. Your actual take-home may differ based on your personal circumstances. Use our calculator below for a personalized calculation.
3. How Tax Is Calculated on £30,000 in the UK
Understanding how your tax is calculated helps you see exactly where your money goes and identify opportunities to optimize your take-home pay.
3.1 Personal Allowance
For the 2025/2026 tax year, the personal allowance is £12,570. This means the first £12,570 of your income is completely tax-free. Everyone earning under £100,000 receives this allowance (it gradually reduces for higher earners).
3.2 Income Tax (20% Basic Rate)
After deducting your personal allowance, the remaining income is subject to tax:
- Gross salary: £30,000
- Personal allowance: £12,570 (tax-free)
- Taxable income: £30,000 – £12,570 = £17,430
- Basic rate tax (20%): £17,430 × 20% = £3,486 per year
3.3 National Insurance Contributions
National Insurance (NI) is calculated on earnings above £12,570 per year (£1,048 per month). For the 2025/2026 tax year, Class 1 employees pay:
- 12% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270
- 2% on earnings above £50,270
For a £30,000 salary:
- NI-liable earnings: £30,000 – £12,570 = £17,430
- National Insurance (12%): £17,430 × 12% = £2,092 per year
4. £30K After Tax Breakdown Table
| Category | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £30,000 |
| Income Tax | -£3,486 |
| National Insurance | -£2,092 |
| Student Loan (if applicable) | £0 |
| Pension (if applicable) | £0 |
| Annual Take-Home Pay | £24,422 |
| Monthly Take-Home Pay | £2,035 |
| Weekly Take-Home Pay | £470 |
5. £30K After Tax Calculator
Use Our £30K Take-Home Pay Calculator
Calculate your exact take-home pay based on your personal circumstances for the 2025/2026 tax year
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Assumptions Used
- Current UK tax bands (2025/2026)
- Standard personal allowance (£12,570)
- NI threshold: £12,570
- Basic rate tax: 20% (England/Wales/NI)
- NI rate: 12% up to £50,270
6. £30K After Tax in Different Scenarios
6.1 With 5% Pension Contribution
Many employers offer workplace pensions with auto-enrollment. Let’s see how a 5% pension contribution affects your take-home pay:
- Gross salary: £30,000
- Pension contribution (5%): £1,500
- Taxable income: £30,000 – £1,500 = £28,500
- Personal allowance: £12,570
- Income subject to tax: £15,930
- Income tax (20%): £3,186
- National Insurance: £1,912
- Annual take-home: £22,402
- Monthly take-home: £1,867
Tax savings explained: Although your take-home is lower (£168 less per month), you’re actually only sacrificing £125 per month because you save £43 in tax and NI. Plus, your employer typically adds their own contribution (often 3-5%), meaning you’re building retirement savings at a discounted rate.
6.2 With Student Loan Plan 2
Student Loan Plan 2 repayments start when you earn over £27,295 per year. You pay 9% on earnings above this threshold.
- Income above threshold: £30,000 – £27,295 = £2,705
- Student loan repayment (9%): £2,705 × 9% = £243 per year (£20 per month)
- Annual take-home with Plan 2 loan: £24,179
- Monthly take-home: £2,015
The monthly difference compared to no student loan is just £20, which is relatively modest at this salary level.
6.3 Living in Scotland
Scotland has different income tax rates and bands. For the 2025/2026 tax year:
- Starter rate (19%): £12,571 – £15,397
- Basic rate (20%): £15,398 – £27,498
- Intermediate rate (21%): £27,499 – £43,662
On a £30,000 salary in Scotland:
- First £12,570: £0 (personal allowance)
- £12,571 – £15,397: £2,826 × 19% = £537
- £15,398 – £27,498: £12,100 × 20% = £2,420
- £27,499 – £30,000: £2,501 × 21% = £525
- Total income tax: £3,482
- National Insurance: £2,092 (same as rest of UK)
- Annual take-home in Scotland: £24,426
- Monthly take-home: £2,036
Interestingly, at £30,000, the difference between Scotland and England/Wales/NI is negligible (just £4 per year), though this gap widens at higher salaries.
7. Monthly Budget Example on £30K Salary
With a monthly take-home of approximately £2,035, here’s a realistic budget breakdown based on UK averages:
| Category | Amount (£) | % of Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Rent/Mortgage | £700 | 34% |
| Council Tax | £120 | 6% |
| Utilities (Gas, Electric, Water) | £150 | 7% |
| Food & Groceries | £250 | 12% |
| Transport (Car/Public) | £200 | 10% |
| Phone & Internet | £50 | 2% |
| Insurance | £80 | 4% |
| Entertainment & Leisure | £150 | 7% |
| Clothing | £50 | 2% |
| Savings & Emergency Fund | £200 | 10% |
| Total | £1,950 | 96% |
| Remaining/Buffer | £85 | 4% |
Regional variations: This budget assumes living outside London. In London, rent alone could easily be £1,000-£1,500 for a one-bedroom flat, making £30k significantly more challenging. In northern England, Scotland, Wales, or smaller cities, housing costs can be 30-50% lower, leaving much more disposable income.
Savings potential: On £30k outside expensive areas, saving £200-£300 per month (10-15% of take-home) is realistic for single people without dependents. This could build an emergency fund of £6,000 within two years.
8. Is £30K a Good Salary in the UK?
Whether £30,000 is a “good” salary depends heavily on your circumstances, location, and lifestyle expectations.
Compared to UK Average Salary
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the median annual salary in the UK for 2025 is approximately £33,000. This means a £30k salary is slightly below the national median but still within the normal range. You’re earning more than roughly 40-45% of UK workers.
London vs Other Regions
Location makes an enormous difference:
- London: £30k is below average and challenging. The median London salary is around £40,000-£42,000. Housing, transport, and general living costs are 30-50% higher. You’d likely need flatmates or to live in outer zones.
- Southeast England: Similar challenges to London, though slightly more affordable. Still tight for solo living.
- Northern England, Midlands, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland: £30k is comfortable. Housing is much more affordable, and you can enjoy a good quality of life, rent or mortgage a decent property, and save regularly.
Single vs Family Comparison
- Single person: £30k is generally adequate for comfortable living outside London, especially if you’re willing to flatshare or live modestly. You can afford social activities, holidays, and build savings.
- Couple (dual income): Two people earning £30k each (£60k household income) can live very comfortably in most UK regions, afford family activities, and save for a house deposit.
- Single parent or sole breadwinner: £30k becomes tight, particularly with childcare costs. You’d qualify for some benefits and tax credits to help, but budgeting would need to be careful.
Cost of Living Context
The current cost of living crisis has made £30k feel tighter than it did five years ago. Inflation in energy, food, and housing has outpaced wage growth. However, for someone in their first “proper” job, or living in affordable regions, £30k remains a solid foundation salary with room for progression.
9. Ways to Increase Your Take-Home Pay
Even without a pay rise, there are several legitimate ways to increase your monthly take-home from a £30k salary:
1. Salary Sacrifice Schemes
Salary sacrifice involves exchanging part of your salary for non-cash benefits before tax is calculated. Common schemes include:
- Cycle to Work: Get a bike tax-free, saving up to 42% on the cost
- Tech Scheme: Buy laptops, phones, or tablets with pre-tax salary
- Electric Vehicle Scheme: Substantial tax savings on EV leasing
- Childcare Vouchers: Save on nursery costs (legacy scheme, closed to new entrants but some still benefit)
2. Pension Optimisation
While contributing to a pension reduces your immediate take-home, it’s incredibly tax-efficient:
- Every £100 you contribute only costs you £80 (or £60 if you’re a higher-rate taxpayer)
- Employer contributions are essentially “free money”
- Consider salary sacrifice pension contributions for additional NI savings
3. Tax-Efficient Benefits
Ask your employer about:
- Workplace ISA or savings schemes
- Health insurance or cash plans
- Gym memberships (if provided as a corporate benefit)
- Season ticket loans (interest-free, paid from gross salary)
4. Correcting Your Tax Code
Many people are on the wrong tax code without realizing. Check your payslip and ensure it shows 1257L (for 2025/26). If it’s wrong, you might be:
- Paying emergency tax rates
- Not receiving your full personal allowance
- Being taxed for benefits you no longer receive
Contact HMRC to correct your tax code and claim back any overpaid tax.
5. Use the Marriage Allowance
If you’re married or in a civil partnership and one partner earns less than £12,570, they can transfer £1,260 of their personal allowance to the other partner, saving up to £252 per year.
6. Claim All Eligible Tax Reliefs
- Working from home: Claim £6 per week tax relief (£62.40 per year for basic-rate taxpayers)
- Professional subscriptions: If you must be a member of a professional body for your job
- Uniform/tools: If you must purchase and maintain specific clothing or tools
7. Using an Accountant
For PAYE employees, an accountant is usually unnecessary. However, if you have side income, rental property, or complex affairs, a good accountant can often save more than their fee through:
- Identifying all available allowances and reliefs
- Optimizing tax efficiency across multiple income streams
- Ensuring you never miss deadlines or face penalties
10. FAQs – £30K After Tax UK
On a £30,000 salary in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland with standard tax code 1257L and no other deductions, your monthly take-home pay is approximately £2,035. This works out to £24,422 per year after Income Tax (£3,486) and National Insurance (£2,092) are deducted.
You pay £3,486 in Income Tax annually on a £30,000 salary. This is calculated as 20% on your taxable income (£30,000 minus your £12,570 personal allowance = £17,430 × 20%). This works out to £290.50 per month or £67 per week.
National Insurance on £30,000 is £2,092 per year (£174.33 per month). This is 12% of your earnings above the NI threshold of £12,570, calculated as: (£30,000 – £12,570) × 12% = £17,430 × 12% = £2,092.
£30k is generally considered lower-middle to middle class in the UK, though this varies by region. It’s slightly below the national median salary (£33,000) but above the national mean. In expensive areas like London, £30k would be working class, while in affordable regions it comfortably supports a middle-class lifestyle. Social class in Britain also depends on education, occupation type, and cultural factors beyond just income.
Student loan repayments are deducted automatically from your salary. On £30,000:
- Plan 1: Threshold £24,990 – you’d pay £453/year (£38/month)
- Plan 2: Threshold £27,295 – you’d pay £243/year (£20/month)
- Plan 4: Threshold £31,395 – no repayments required
- Plan 5: Threshold £25,000 – you’d pay £450/year (£38/month)
- Postgraduate: Threshold £21,000 – you’d pay £540/year (£45/month)
Use the calculator above to see your exact take-home with student loans included.
Your £30,000 salary is your gross income before pension contributions. If you contribute 5% to a workplace pension (£1,500), this comes out before tax is calculated, reducing both your tax bill and your take-home pay. However, you’re effectively only sacrificing £1,200 due to the £300 you save in tax and NI, while building pension savings of £1,500+ (including employer contributions).
The National Living Wage (minimum wage for 21+) from April 2025 is £11.44 per hour. Working 37.5 hours per week, this equals approximately £22,316 per year. Therefore, £30k is about 34% more than minimum wage – a meaningful step up but not dramatically different.
Yes, most lenders will offer you a mortgage on £30k. Typically, you can borrow 4-4.5 times your salary, meaning £120,000-£135,000. With a 10% deposit (£13,500), you could potentially buy a property worth £135,000-£148,500. This is realistic in many UK regions outside the Southeast, though deposit requirements and lending criteria vary by lender and your personal circumstances.
11. Conclusion
On a £30,000 salary in the UK, you can expect to take home approximately £24,422 per year or £2,035 per month after Income Tax and National Insurance are deducted. This assumes the standard tax code (1257L) and no additional deductions like pensions or student loans.
Your actual take-home pay will vary based on:
- Where you live (Scotland has different tax rates)
- Whether you contribute to a workplace pension
- If you have student loan repayments
- Your specific tax code and circumstances
Whether £30k is “good” depends entirely on your location and lifestyle. It’s a comfortable salary in most of the UK outside London and the Southeast, allowing you to live independently, save modestly, and enjoy social activities. In London, it’s more challenging and you’d likely need to flatshare or live further out.
Get Your Personalized Calculation
Every person’s tax situation is unique. Use our interactive calculator above to see exactly how much you’ll take home based on your specific circumstances, including pension contributions, student loans, and location.
Need expert tax advice? Consider consulting with our qualified accountant who can help optimize your tax position and ensure you’re claiming all available reliefs and allowances.
Last updated: February 2026 | Tax rates based on 2025/2026 tax year
Also Read:
£45K After Tax UK: What You Actually Take Home in 2026
£35000 After Tax in the UK: What Your Salary Really Looks
£50000 After Tax UK: How Much Salary Do You Need?
£40000 After Tax in the UK (Calculator)
