UK Wages Calculator
Convert your hourly, weekly, or monthly wages to annual take-home pay. Useful when an employer quotes an hourly rate and you want to know what that translates to per year and after tax. Calculations use 2026/27 UK PAYE Income Tax and Class 1 National Insurance rates.
Hourly wages to annual take-home — the maths
The standard UK full-time year is 37.5 hours per week × 52 weeks = 1,950 hours. To go from an hourly wage to gross annual: multiply by 1,950. Then the calculator applies the 2026/27 Personal Allowance (£12,570), Income Tax bands (20% / 40% / 45%), and Class 1 employee NIC (8% / 2%) to produce take-home.
This calculator assumes a 37.5-hour week. If you work 40 hours, multiply your hourly rate by 2,080 instead. For 30 hours: 1,560. Adjust your gross figure manually before entering it as "Per year" if your schedule differs from the default.
Common UK hourly wages and their annualised take-home
Approximate take-home for a standard PAYE employee, England/Wales/NI, full-time 37.5h × 52 weeks = 1,950 hours:
| Hourly wage | Gross annual | Take-home (annual) | Take-home (monthly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| £12.71 (National Living Wage) | £24,780 | £21,360 | £1,780 |
| £15 | £29,250 | £24,580 | £2,050 |
| £20 | £39,000 | £31,600 | £2,630 |
| £25 | £48,750 | £38,620 | £3,220 |
| £30 | £58,500 | £44,490 | £3,710 |
| £40 | £78,000 | £55,800 | £4,650 |
| £50 | £97,500 | £67,110 | £5,590 |
Use the calculator above for your specific hourly rate and NIC status.
Frequently asked
How do hourly wages convert to annual salary in the UK?
The standard UK full-time week is 37.5 hours × 52 weeks = 1,950 hours/year. So £15/hr ≈ £29,250 gross; £20/hr ≈ £39,000; £25/hr ≈ £48,750. The calculator uses 37.5h/week when you enter "Per hour" — adjust manually if you work a different schedule.
What is the difference between wages and salary in the UK?
Wages are typically paid by the hour and vary with hours worked — common for retail, hospitality, manual trades, agency workers. Salary is a fixed annual amount paid in equal monthly instalments — common for office and professional roles. Both are taxed under PAYE in the same way.
Does the calculator handle overtime?
Not directly — it assumes a 37.5-hour week. To estimate overtime impact, calculate your average weekly hours including overtime, multiply by your hourly rate to get a gross annual figure, then enter that as "Per year".
What is the National Living Wage for 2026/27?
From 1 April 2026 the National Living Wage (age 21 and over) is £12.71 an hour, which is £24,785 a year before tax at 37.5 hours a week. After Income Tax and National Insurance that is about £21,360 take-home. The rate for 18 to 20 year olds is £10.85, and £8.00 for under-18s and apprentices.
Are tips counted as wages?
Yes when paid through payroll. From October 2024, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act requires employers to pass on 100% of tips to workers and to use a fair tronc system. Tips processed through the tronc are subject to Income Tax but exempt from NIC. Cash tips paid directly are subject to Income Tax but the worker is responsible for declaring them.
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Last updated: October 2026 · Sources: gov.uk, rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027; National Living Wage rates from 1 April 2026.