£21 an hour after tax

Working at £21 an hour (40 hours a week over 52 weeks) is £43,680 a year gross. That leaves about £34,970 take-home a year, or £2,914 a month, in 2026/27. It falls in the basic rate (20%) band. Nationally that ranks at about the 69th percentile of UK employees by pay.

UK rank (all employees)top 31%
Take-home / hour£16.81
Gross / hour£21.00
Take-home / year£34,970
Take-home / month£2,914

Where the money goes

Annual deductions
Gross salary£43,680
Income tax−£6,222
National Insurance−£2,488
Take-home pay£34,970

Equivalent to £43,680 a year, rest-of-UK tax rules, 2026/27 rates, no pension or student loan. See £43,680 in the full calculator →

Income tax on £43,680 a year

BandRateOnTax
Personal allowance0%£12,570£0
Basic rate20%£31,110£6,222

How £21 an hour compares

By gross pay this salary sits at about the 59th percentile of full-time employees, and the 69th percentile of all employees (ONS ASHE via Nomis).

£21 an hour after tax — FAQ

£21 an hour is how much a year?
At 40 hours a week over 52 weeks, £21 an hour is £43,680 a year gross, or about £34,970 a year after tax.
How much is £21 an hour after tax?
About £34,970 a year take-home, or £2,914 a month, after £6,222 income tax and £2,488 National Insurance (2026/27).
Is £21 an hour a good wage in the UK?
It works out at £43,680 a year, which sits at about the 69th percentile of UK employees by pay — higher than most. What counts as 'good' depends on your hours, location and outgoings.

Open the full calculator →