Hourly Wage Calculator UK 2026/27
Hourly salary to take-home pay after tax
Use this free UK hourly wage calculator (also an hourly salary calculator) to convert your £/hr rate into annual gross, then estimate take-home pay after PAYE income tax, National Insurance, pension and Student Loan for 2026/27. Defaults assume 40 hours per week, England/Wales/NI PAYE rules, and no pension or Student Loan — change any field for a closer estimate. Results are estimates, not advice.
Example hourly rates: £13/hr after tax, £15/hr after tax, £20/hr after tax. Scenario guides: minimum wage after tax, average UK salary after tax.
Salary Sankey - 2026/27
Yearly breakdown of a £26,000.00 gross annual salary in 2026/27
Salary Breakdown Table - 2026/27
| 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 this hourly wage calculator works
Enter your hourly rate and hours per week. The calculator annualises that to gross salary (40 hrs × 52 weeks by default), then runs the same 2026/27 PAYE model used on the main salary calculator — income tax bands, employee National Insurance, optional pension and Student Loan plans. Output is an estimate of net take-home (yearly, monthly, and per period), not a payslip or HMRC determination.
Official band rates and thresholds live on GOV.UK income tax rates and National Insurance rates. For shift or bonus pay structures, see GOV.UK pay calculations guidance.
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 typically:
- 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
- £13 per hour × 40 hours per week = £27,040 per year
Keep in mind:
- Part-time hours shrink annual gross (and usually tax) — edit hours in the form rather than guessing
- 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 National Minimum Wage rates with changes for the 2026/27 tax year following the Low Pay Commission's recommendations. Always verify the live legal rates on GOV.UK National Minimum Wage rates. For a full NLW take-home walkthrough, see minimum wage after tax UK.
| 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 common examples based on a standard 40-hour week — each links to a dedicated take-home page:
| Hourly Rate | Annual Salary (40hrs/week) |
|---|---|
| £10/hr | £20,800 |
| £12/hr | £24,960 |
| £13/hr | £27,040 |
| £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. Prefer annual salary input? Switch to the UK salary calculator. Working from a net target instead? Try the net-to-gross salary calculator.
What Affects Your Take-Home Pay?
Your hourly take-home pay depends on:
- Your total annual earnings (rate × hours × weeks)
- Your tax code and region (Scotland uses different income tax bands)
- 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.
Hourly Wage Calculator UK FAQ
How do I convert hourly wage to annual salary UK?
Multiply hourly rate × hours per week × 52. This calculator does that first, then estimates PAYE deductions for 2026/27. Default hours are 40 — change them if you work part-time or a different contracted week.
Is take-home the same as hourly rate minus a flat tax percentage?
No. UK income tax and National Insurance use bands and thresholds, so effective tax is not a single percentage. Enter the rate in the form (or open £15/hr / £20/hr sample pages) to see the breakdown.
What hours per week does this hourly salary calculator assume?
40 hours per week unless you change the hours field. Annualising with wrong hours is the most common reason estimates disagree with a real payslip.
How does National Living Wage relate to this page?
NLW is a legal hourly floor by age band — see the table above and minimum wage after tax UK for a seeded NLW take-home example. This hub is for any hourly rate you type or pick from the ladder.
When should I use the annual or reverse calculator instead?
Use the annual salary calculator when the offer is quoted as a yearly salary. Use the net-to-gross calculator when you know the take-home you need and want the required gross.