UK rank (all employees)top 34%
Take-home / year£33,760
Take-home / month£2,813
Take-home / week£649
Effective / hour£16.23
Where the money goes
| Gross salary | £42,000 |
|---|---|
| Income tax | −£5,886 |
| National Insurance | −£2,354 |
| Take-home pay | £33,760 |
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 £42,000 under Scottish tax rules →
Income tax band breakdown
| Band | Rate | On | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | 0% | £12,570 | £0 |
| Basic rate | 20% | £29,430 | £5,886 |
You are in the basic rate (20%) band.
How £42,000 compares
By gross pay this salary sits at about the 56th percentile of full-time employees, and the 66th percentile of all employees (ONS ASHE via Nomis).
It is about 59% above the same-hours minimum-wage floor of £26,437 (£12.71/hr).
£42,000 after tax — FAQ
How much is £42,000 after tax?
A £42,000 gross salary leaves about £33,760 a year after tax — roughly £2,813 a month — once £5,886 income tax and £2,354 National Insurance are deducted (rest-of-UK rules, 2026/27, no pension or student loan).
What is £42,000 a year per month after tax?
About £2,813 a month, or roughly £649 a week, based on the £33,760 annual take-home for 2026/27.
How much tax do you pay on £42,000?
On £42,000 you pay about £5,886 in income tax and £2,354 in National Insurance, putting you in the basic rate (20%) band.
What is £42,000 a year per hour?
At 40 hours a week over 52 weeks, £42,000 is about £20.19 an hour gross, or £16.23 an hour after tax.
Is £42,000 a good salary in the UK?
£42,000 sits at about the 66th percentile of UK employees by gross pay, which is higher than most people earn — though what counts as 'good' depends on your hours, location and outgoings.