2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027). Tax code 1257L, no student loan or pension.
Your £42,000 salary broken down
| Gross pay | Income Tax | National Insurance | Take home | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A year | £42,000 | £5,886 | £2,354 | £33,760 |
| A month | £3,500.00 | £490.50 | £196.20 | £2,813.30 |
| A week | £807.69 | £113.19 | £45.28 | £649.22 |
You're a basic-rate taxpayer in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: you pay 20% tax on the £29,430 you earn above the £12,570 tax-free allowance, and 8% National Insurance on the same amount. Altogether you keep 80% of your pay.
With a student loan or pension
| Situation | Take home a month (England, Wales, NI) | Take home a month (Scotland) |
|---|---|---|
| No student loan or pension | £2,813 | £2,806 |
| Plan 2 student loan | £2,719 | £2,712 |
| Plan 5 student loan | £2,686 | £2,679 |
| 5% pension (taken before tax) | £2,673 | £2,668 |
| Plan 2 loan and 5% pension | £2,579 | £2,573 |
In Scotland, a £42,000 salary takes home £85 less a year than in England, because Scotland's bands above £29,527 are higher.
What a pay rise would be worth
A £1,000 pay rise to £43,000 would add £720 a year, or £60 a month, to your take-home pay. You keep about 72p of each extra pound. Work out a different rise.
Open £42,000 in the full calculator to add your own pension, student loan or Scottish tax.
Nearby salaries
Sources: GOV.UK rates and thresholds 2026 to 2027, Scottish Government.