How a £21,000 salary is taxed in 2026/27
Income tax. After the £12,570 personal allowance, £8,430 is taxable: £8,430 at 20%. That is £1,686 of income tax — an effective rate of 8.0% on the full salary even though your top rate is 20%.
National Insurance. Employees pay Class 1 NI of 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above, so £21,000 costs £674 a year (£56 a month). NI is the same in Scotland.
Scotland. Scottish taxpayers use six bands (19%, 20%, 21%, 42%, 45% and 48%). At £21,000 your top Scottish band is the basic rate (20%) and you pay £1,646 income tax — £40 less than in the rest of the UK, leaving £18,679 a year.
Student loan and pension. At £21,000 you are below the £29,385 Plan 2 threshold, so a Plan 2 student loan takes nothing. A 5% workplace pension (£1,050) costs you only £840 in take-home under a net pay arrangement because it comes out before income tax, or £756 through salary sacrifice, which also saves NI.
A raise from here. A £1,000 pay rise to £22,000 adds £720 to take-home in England, Wales and NI — you keep 72p of each extra pound (marginal deduction rate 28%; 28% in Scotland).
Nearby salaries after tax
| Salary | E, W & NI / yr | / month | Scotland / yr | / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £19,000 | £17,200 | £1,433 | £17,239 | £1,437 |
| £20,000 | £17,920 | £1,493 | £17,959 | £1,497 |
| £21,000 | £18,640 | £1,553 | £18,679 | £1,557 |
| £22,000 | £19,360 | £1,613 | £19,399 | £1,617 |
| £23,000 | £20,080 | £1,673 | £20,119 | £1,677 |
FAQ
How much is £21,000 after tax in 2026/27?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland a £21,000 salary leaves £18,640 a year after £1,686 income tax and £674 National Insurance, with no pension or student loan. In Scotland the take-home is £18,679 because Scottish income tax is £1,646.
How much is £21,000 a year per month after tax?
About £1,553 a month in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and £1,557 a month in Scotland. Gross monthly pay is £1,750. With a Plan 2 student loan the monthly figure falls to £1,553.
What is £21,000 a year per hour after tax?
Based on a 37.5-hour week (1,950 hours a year), £21,000 is £10.77 an hour before tax and £9.56 an hour after income tax and NI (£9.58 in Scotland). Weekly take-home is £358.45.
What tax band is £21,000 in?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the top slice of £21,000 falls in the basic rate (20%). In Scotland it falls in the basic rate (20%). Only the income inside each band is taxed at that band's rate.
How much student loan do I repay on £21,000?
Nothing on Plan 2, because £21,000 is below the 2026/27 Plan 2 threshold of £29,385. Plan 1 starts at £26,900 and Plan 5 at £25,000.
Assumptions & sources
- Annual figures for the 2026/27 tax year; your payslip may differ slightly because PAYE and NI are worked out each pay period and rounded.
- Rest of UK: personal allowance £12,570 (reduced by £1 for every £2 over £100,000), 20% to £50,270, 40% to £125,140, 45% above. Scotland: 19% / 20% / 21% / 42% / 45% / 48% with bands at £16,537, £29,526, £43,662, £75,000 and £125,140.
- Employee NI category A: 8% between £12,570 and £50,270, 2% above. Plan 2 student loan 9% above £29,385.
- Sources: GOV.UK Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027; gov.scot Scottish Income Tax 2026 to 2027. Data as of 2026-11-03.
Need a bonus, a different pension percentage or Plan 1/4/5? Use the UK take-home pay calculator or the salary after tax hub.