How £20,000 is taxed in 2026/27
The first £12,570 of a £20,000 salary is covered by the personal allowance and is tax-free, leaving £7,430 in taxable income. Income Tax is charged progressively — 20% up to £50,270, 40% up to £125,140 and 45% above — so a £20,000 earner pays about £1,486 in Income Tax. The top of this salary sits in the 20% band.
On top of Income Tax, employee National Insurance takes 8% of earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above, adding about £594. Together, Income Tax and National Insurance come to £2,080 on a £20,000 salary, leaving £17,920 take-home.
Monthly and weekly pay
Spread across the year, £17,920 take-home is about £1,493 a month or £345 a week. Before tax, £20,000 is roughly £10.26 per hour on a 37.5-hour working week.
£20,000 after tax in Scotland
If you live in Scotland, income tax is set by the Scottish Government and uses six bands for 2026/27 (19% starter, 20% basic, 21% intermediate, 42% higher, 45% advanced and 48% top) instead of the 20/40/45% used elsewhere in the UK. A £20,000 salary therefore leaves about £17,959 a year take-home in Scotland — roughly £1,497 a month — which is about £40 more than the £17,920 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Lower earners in Scotland keep slightly more thanks to the 19% starter and 21% intermediate bands. National Insurance is reserved to the UK, so it is identical wherever you live.
Estimates for 2026/27. England, Wales & NI: personal allowance £12,570 (tapered above £100k); 20/40/45% Income Tax bands. Scotland: six bands per gov.scot (Budget, 13 Jan 2026). Employee NI 8%/2% UK-wide. Excludes pension salary sacrifice, student loan and tax-code adjustments. Not tax advice — verify at GOV.UK.