UK Hourly Wage Calculator 2025/26
Visual PAYE Tax Breakdown & Flow Chart
Calculate your UK take-home pay from an hourly wage for 2025/26. Enter your hourly rate to see how PAYE income tax, National Insurance, Pension and Student Loan repayments affect what you actually take home. Instantly view your estimated annual salary equivalent and a clear visual breakdown of deductions. Select "2026/27" from the dropdown below to see results for the upcoming tax year.
Salary Flow Chart - 2025/26
Yearly breakdown of a £26,000.00 gross annual salary in 2025/26
Salary Breakdown Table - 2025/26
| Metric | Yearly | Monthly | Weekly | Daily |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Gross income | £26,000.00 | £2,166.67 | £500.00 | £100.00 |
| Personal allowance | £12,570.00 | £1,047.50 | £241.73 | £48.35 |
| Taxable income | £13,430.00 | £1,119.17 | £258.27 | £51.65 |
Deductions | £3,760.40 | £313.37 | £72.32 | £14.46 |
Income tax | £2,686.00 | £223.83 | £51.65 | £10.33 |
| Basic rate | £2,686.00 | £223.83 | £51.65 | £10.33 |
| National Insurance | £1,074.40 | £89.53 | £20.66 | £4.13 |
| Net take-home | £22,239.60 | £1,853.30 | £427.68 | £85.54 |
How Is Hourly Pay Taxed in the UK?
When you are paid an hourly wage, your employer still calculates tax under the UK PAYE (Pay As You Earn) system. Even though you are paid by the hour, your income is effectively annualised to determine how much Income Tax and National Insurance you owe. The tax rules are the same whether you earn hourly or on a fixed salary — only the way your pay is structured differs.
Your employer will:
- Multiply your hourly rate by your contracted hours
- Estimate your annual income
- Apply Income Tax bands and thresholds
- Calculate National Insurance contributions
- Deduct Student Loan repayments if applicable
Convert an Hourly Rate to Annual Salary
To estimate your equivalent annual salary from an hourly wage, use:
Hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks
For example:
- £15 per hour × 40 hours per week = £31,200 per year
Keep in mind:
- Overtime may be taxed differently depending on how it is paid
- Irregular hours can change your monthly take-home pay
- Bonuses are taxed through PAYE at your marginal rate
National Living Wage and Minimum Wage
The table below shows the National Living Wage and Minimum Wage with changes for the upcoming 2026/27 tax year following the Low Pay Commission's recommendations.
| Tax Year | Ages 21+ | Ages 18-20 | Under 18 | Apprentice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £12.71 (+4.1%) | £10.85 (+8.5%) | £8 (+5.9%) | £8 (+5.9%) |
| 2025/26 | £12.21 | £10 | £7.55 | £7.55 |
Common Hourly Rates: What's the Annual Equivalent?
Searching for what a specific hourly rate means as a yearly salary? Here are some common examples based on a standard 40-hour week:
| Hourly Rate | Annual Salary (40hrs/week) |
|---|---|
| £10/hr | £20,800 |
| £12/hr | £24,960 |
| £15/hr | £31,200 |
| £20/hr | £41,600 |
| £25/hr | £52,000 |
| £30/hr | £62,400 |
| £50/hr | £104,000 |
Use the calculator above to see the actual take-home pay for any of these rates after Income Tax, National Insurance, and other deductions.
What Affects Your Take-Home Pay?
Your hourly take-home pay depends on:
- Your total annual earnings
- Your tax code
- National Insurance thresholds
- Student Loan plan type
- Pension contributions
Small changes in your hourly rate can move you into a different tax band, which is why comparing pay increases can be useful.
Why Use an Hourly Wage Calculator?
An hourly rate calculator helps you:
- Understand how much you actually take home per hour
- Compare job offers with different hourly rates
- See how a pay rise affects your net income
- Estimate annual salary from part-time or contract work
If you prefer to enter a fixed annual salary instead, you can use the main UK salary calculator.