Calculate your net pay after tax — US & UK
🇺🇸 US: Estimates take-home pay after 2025 federal income tax brackets, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), and state income tax for all 50 states. 401(k) contributions are pre-tax.
🇬🇧 UK: Uses 2025/26 Income Tax bands (Personal Allowance £12,570; Basic 20%; Higher 40%; Additional 45%) and National Insurance (8% up to £50,270, 2% above). Supports Scotland tax bands, all student loan plans, and pension contributions.
Results are estimates. Actual take-home pay may vary based on your tax code, other income, and personal circumstances. Consult HMRC or a tax professional for precise figures.
In the US, federal income tax ranges from 10% to 37% depending on your income bracket, plus 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare (FICA), plus state income tax (0% in states like Texas and Florida, up to 13.3% in California). In the UK, you pay 20% on income above the £12,570 personal allowance, 40% above £50,270, and 45% above £125,140, plus National Insurance contributions of 8% up to £50,270 and 2% above.
Gross salary is your total pay before any deductions. Net salary (take-home pay) is what lands in your bank account after income tax, National Insurance (UK) or FICA (US), and any pension or 401(k) contributions. The difference between gross and net can be substantial — a £50,000 gross salary in the UK typically results in around £37,000–£38,000 take-home, depending on pension contributions and other deductions.
Pension contributions reduce your taxable income, which means the actual cost to your take-home pay is less than the contribution amount. In the UK, a £200/month pension contribution from a basic-rate taxpayer reduces take-home pay by only £160, because £40 of tax relief is added to the pension by HMRC. In the US, traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax, directly reducing your taxable income and therefore your tax bill.
National Insurance (NI) is a UK social security tax paid by employees, employers, and the self-employed. Employee NI contributions fund state benefits including the State Pension, NHS, and other welfare benefits. In 2025/26, employees pay 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above that. Employers pay an additional 15% on employee earnings above £5,000 — this is on top of your gross salary and not visible on your payslip.
UK student loan repayments are income-contingent — you only repay when you earn above a threshold. Plan 1 (pre-2012 loans): 9% above £24,990. Plan 2 (2012–2023): 9% above £27,295. Plan 5 (from August 2023): 9% above £25,000. Plan 4 (Scotland): 9% above £31,395. Postgraduate loans: 6% above £21,000. Repayments are deducted automatically via payroll, similar to tax. Use this calculator to see how your plan affects your take-home pay.
Figures are estimates for guidance only. See about this site — how we source data and what these tools can and cannot do.
UK income tax is not a flat rate applied to your whole salary — it's a marginal system where each "band" of income is taxed at a different rate. For 2025/26, the first £12,570 is tax-free (the Personal Allowance). Income between £12,571 and £50,270 is taxed at 20% (Basic Rate). Between £50,271 and £125,140, the rate is 40% (Higher Rate). Above £125,140, it's 45% (Additional Rate).
A common misconception: earning a pay rise that pushes you into the 40% band does not mean all your income is taxed at 40%. Only the portion above £50,270 is taxed at the higher rate. Someone earning £55,000 pays 40% only on £4,730 — not on the full £55,000.
Between £100,000 and £125,140, the Personal Allowance is progressively withdrawn at £1 for every £2 earned above £100,000. This creates an effective 60% marginal tax rate in that range — making pension contributions particularly valuable for people earning in this band, as contributions reduce adjusted income and restore the Personal Allowance.
National Insurance (NI) is a separate charge from income tax, though it functions similarly. For employees in 2025/26, the rate is 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, then 2% above £50,270. NI contributes to your State Pension entitlement and eligibility for certain benefits — you need 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension.
Self-employed people pay Class 2 and Class 4 NI at different rates. Directors paid through their own company often structure remuneration as salary up to the NI threshold plus dividends — a tax-efficient approach, though corporation tax changes in 2023 reduced the advantage.
Federal income tax applies uniformly across the US, but state income tax varies enormously. Nine states have no income tax at all: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. At the other extreme, California taxes the highest earners at 13.3%, and New York City residents pay a combined city, state, and federal rate that can exceed 50% on top incomes.
Beyond income tax, FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) deducts 6.2% for Social Security (up to the wage base of $176,100 in 2025) and 1.45% for Medicare with no cap. An additional 0.9% Medicare surtax applies to earnings above $200,000 for single filers. State income tax is calculated on top of all of this, which is why the same gross salary can produce very different take-home pay depending on where you live.
UK student loan repayments are calculated as a percentage of earnings above a threshold, not as a fixed monthly amount. Plan 1 loans (pre-2012 England/Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) have a threshold of £24,990 for 2025/26 — you repay 9% of earnings above this. Plan 2 (post-2012 England/Wales) has a threshold of £27,295. Plan 5 (England, from 2023) has a threshold of £25,000. Plan 4 (Scotland) has a threshold of £31,395.
Postgraduate loans add a further 6% on earnings above £21,000. Multiple plans can run concurrently. Importantly, student loan repayments in the UK are not traditional debt repayments — unpaid balances are written off after 25–30 years (depending on plan), and repayments cease automatically if earnings drop below the threshold.
UK tax bands and NI rates are HMRC 2025/26 published figures. Student loan thresholds are from the Student Loans Company. US federal tax brackets are IRS 2025 figures. FICA rates follow current SSA published rates. State income tax rates use current published rates for all 50 states. Results are estimates — your actual take-home pay depends on your tax code, other income sources, and employer-specific deductions.
Researched and maintained by Iulian, founder of Flux Media Systems. General information, not professional advice — about this site & our sources →