UK rank (all employees)top 10% or higher
Take-home / hour£29.44
Gross / hour£42.00
Take-home / year£61,227
Take-home / month£5,102
Where the money goes
| Gross salary | £87,360 |
|---|---|
| Income tax | −£22,376 |
| National Insurance | −£3,757 |
| Take-home pay | £61,227 |
Equivalent to £87,360 a year, rest-of-UK tax rules, 2026/27 rates, no pension or student loan. See £87,360 in the full calculator →
Income tax on £87,360 a year
| Band | Rate | On | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | 0% | £12,570 | £0 |
| Basic rate | 20% | £37,700 | £7,540 |
| Higher rate | 40% | £37,090 | £14,836 |
How £42 an hour compares
By gross pay this salary sits at about the 90th percentile or above of full-time employees, and the 90th percentile or above of all employees (ONS ASHE via Nomis).
£42 an hour after tax — FAQ
£42 an hour is how much a year?
At 40 hours a week over 52 weeks, £42 an hour is £87,360 a year gross, or about £61,227 a year after tax.
How much is £42 an hour after tax?
About £61,227 a year take-home, or £5,102 a month, after £22,376 income tax and £3,757 National Insurance (2026/27).
Is £42 an hour a good wage in the UK?
It works out at £87,360 a year, which sits at about the 90th percentile or above of UK employees by pay — higher than most. What counts as 'good' depends on your hours, location and outgoings.