2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027). Tax code 1257L, no student loan or pension.
Your £48,000 salary broken down
| Gross pay | Income Tax | National Insurance | Take home | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A year | £48,000 | £7,086 | £2,834 | £38,080 |
| A month | £4,000.00 | £590.50 | £236.20 | £3,173.30 |
| A week | £923.08 | £136.27 | £54.51 | £732.30 |
You're a basic-rate taxpayer in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: you pay 20% tax on the £35,430 you earn above the £12,570 tax-free allowance, and 8% National Insurance on the same amount. Altogether you keep 79% 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 | £3,173 | £3,085 |
| Plan 2 student loan | £3,034 | £2,946 |
| Plan 5 student loan | £3,001 | £2,913 |
| 5% pension (taken before tax) | £3,013 | £2,969 |
| Plan 2 loan and 5% pension | £2,874 | £2,830 |
In Scotland, a £48,000 salary takes home £1,056 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 £49,000 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 £48,000 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.