£25,120
Annual take-home
£2,093
Per month
£483
Per week
2026/27 · standard tax code 1257L · no pension or student loan
Tax breakdown 2026/27
£30,000 falls entirely within the basic rate band. After subtracting the Personal Allowance (£12,570), you pay 20% income tax and 8% National Insurance on the remainder.
| Deduction | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £30,000 | £2,500 |
| Personal Allowance | £12,570 | — |
| Income tax (20%) | −£3,486 | −£291 |
| National Insurance (8%) | −£1,394 | −£116 |
| Take-home pay | £25,120 | £2,093 |
| Effective tax rate | 16.3% | — |
How deductions change your take-home
| Scenario | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| No pension, no student loan | £25,120 | £2,093 |
| + Plan 2 student loan | £24,877 | £2,073 |
| + 5% salary sacrifice pension | £23,870 | £1,989 |
| + Pension + Plan 2 loan | £23,627 | £1,969 |
Salary sacrifice pension saves income tax and NI. Use the calculator for your exact figures.
How £30,000 compares
| Benchmark | Gross/yr | vs £30k |
|---|---|---|
| National Living Wage (FT, 37.5h) | £23,810 | +26% |
| UK median — all employees (ONS 2024) | £34,963 | −14% |
| UK median — full-time employees | £37,430 | −20% |
| Your salary | £30,000 | — |
| Top 25% threshold (approx.) | £50,000 | −40% |
Sources: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2024. Full-time, employee jobs.
Cost of living on £30,000
With £2,093/month after tax, your budget depends heavily on where you live. Here is an approximate picture for a single person:
| Monthly expense | London | UK average |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed) | £1,800–2,200 | £850–1,100 |
| Groceries | £280 | £220 |
| Utilities (energy + water) | £140 | £130 |
| Council tax | £150 | £170 |
| Transport | £180 (TfL) | £150 (car) |
| Estimated essentials | £2,550–3,000 | £1,520–1,770 |
Key things to know on £30,000
- →Pension: Even a 5% salary sacrifice pension contribution (£1,500/yr) only reduces take-home by about £1,050 after the tax and NI savings — and your employer may match it. Opt in if your employer offers matching.
- →Student loan: Plan 2 repayments are £243/yr on £30,000 — relatively small. They do not affect your tax rate. Plan 1 repayments would be £450/yr.
- →Work from home relief: If you work from home regularly, you can claim £6/week (£312/yr) tax relief. On £30k that saves around £62/yr — minor but free to claim.
- →Marriage Allowance: If your partner earns less than £12,570, they can transfer up to £1,260 of their Personal Allowance to you, saving up to £252/yr in tax.
- →Council tax reduction: On lower incomes you may qualify for a council tax reduction. Check with your local council.
Frequently asked questions
What is the take-home pay on £30,000 in the UK?+
On a £30,000 salary in 2026/27 with no pension or student loan, you take home approximately £25,120 a year — around £2,093 a month or £483 a week. You pay £3,486 in income tax and £1,394 in National Insurance.
Is £30,000 a good salary in the UK?+
£30,000 is below the UK median full-time salary of around £37,430 (ONS 2024), placing you in the lower-middle range. In cheaper regions like the North East or Wales it can support a modest single lifestyle. In London or the South East, where rents exceed £1,800/month for a one-bed, it is very tight for a single person.
How does £30,000 compare to the minimum wage?+
The National Living Wage (for workers 21+) is £12.21/hour from April 2025. Working 37.5 hours a week, that equals roughly £23,810 a year. At £30,000 you are earning about 26% more than a full-time NLW worker.
How much student loan do I repay on £30,000?+
On Plan 2 (most graduates from 2012 onward), you repay 9% of earnings above £27,295. On £30,000 that is £2,705 × 9% = £243 a year (about £20/month). Plan 1 threshold is £24,990, so repayments there would be £450/year. Check your plan type on your payslip or the Student Loans Company portal.
Can I buy a house on £30,000?+
Most lenders offer 4–4.5 times your salary. At £30,000 that is a maximum mortgage of roughly £120,000–£135,000. With average UK house prices around £285,000, this typically means needing a large deposit or buying in lower-cost areas, or buying with a partner. Shared ownership and Help to Buy alternatives may be worth exploring.
Run your exact numbers
Add pension, student loan, Scotland region, and more for a personalised figure.
Spotted an error or have a suggestion? Let us know — we read every message.