UK rank (all employees)22nd percentile
Take-home / year£17,920
Take-home / month£1,493
Take-home / week£345
Effective / hour£8.62
Where the money goes
| Gross salary | £20,000 |
|---|---|
| Income tax | −£1,486 |
| National Insurance | −£594 |
| Take-home pay | £17,920 |
Rest-of-UK tax rules, 2026/27 rates, 40h/week over 52 weeks, no pension or student loan. Adjust these in the calculator →
Live in Scotland? See £20,000 under Scottish tax rules →
Income tax band breakdown
| Band | Rate | On | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | 0% | £12,570 | £0 |
| Basic rate | 20% | £7,430 | £1,486 |
You are in the basic rate (20%) band.
How £20,000 compares
By gross pay this salary sits at about the 10th percentile or below of full-time employees, and the 22nd percentile of all employees (ONS ASHE via Nomis).
It is about 24% below the same-hours minimum-wage floor of £26,437 (£12.71/hr).
£20,000 after tax — FAQ
How much is £20,000 after tax?
A £20,000 gross salary leaves about £17,920 a year after tax — roughly £1,493 a month — once £1,486 income tax and £594 National Insurance are deducted (rest-of-UK rules, 2026/27, no pension or student loan).
What is £20,000 a year per month after tax?
About £1,493 a month, or roughly £345 a week, based on the £17,920 annual take-home for 2026/27.
How much tax do you pay on £20,000?
On £20,000 you pay about £1,486 in income tax and £594 in National Insurance, putting you in the basic rate (20%) band.
What is £20,000 a year per hour?
At 40 hours a week over 52 weeks, £20,000 is about £9.62 an hour gross, or £8.62 an hour after tax.
Is £20,000 a good salary in the UK?
£20,000 sits at about the 22nd percentile of UK employees by gross pay, which is below the UK median, so lower than most people earn — though what counts as 'good' depends on your hours, location and outgoings.