Salary Calculator
Calculate your exact take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance (UK) or Federal tax and FICA (US). Annual and monthly breakdown included.
Select your country
How the Salary Calculator Works
Full tax calculations — not estimates. The same methodology HMRC and the IRS use.
Enter your gross salary
Enter your salary before tax — the figure in your employment contract or job offer letter. You can enter annual or monthly.
Income tax is calculated by band
Tax bands are applied progressively — only income in each bracket is taxed at that rate. You never pay the higher rate on all your income.
National Insurance / FICA is applied
UK: NI is 8% on £12,570–£50,270 and 2% above. US: Social Security is 6.2% up to $168,600, Medicare 1.45% on all income.
Net salary is calculated
Your take-home pay is your gross salary minus all deductions. The result is shown per month and per year, with a full line-item breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is UK income tax calculated?
UK income tax is calculated on your earnings above the Personal Allowance (£12,570 for 2024/25). You pay 20% on income up to £50,270 (Basic Rate), 40% on income between £50,270 and £125,140 (Higher Rate), and 45% above £125,140 (Additional Rate). The Personal Allowance is gradually reduced for earnings above £100,000 — you lose £1 of allowance for every £2 earned above £100,000, effectively creating a 60% marginal rate in that band.
What is National Insurance and how is it calculated?
National Insurance (NI) is a UK social security contribution paid by employees. For 2024/25, employees pay 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% on earnings above £50,270. NI funds the NHS, State Pension, and other benefits. It is separate from income tax and is calculated on gross earnings before any tax deductions.
What is the difference between gross and net salary?
Gross salary is your full salary before any deductions — it is the number in your employment contract. Net salary (take-home pay) is what you actually receive after income tax, National Insurance (UK) or FICA (US), and any other deductions like pension contributions. The gap between gross and net widens significantly at higher income levels due to higher tax rates.
How does the US standard deduction work?
The US federal standard deduction reduces your taxable income before calculating tax. For 2024, it is $14,600 for single filers and $29,200 for married filing jointly. You only pay federal income tax on your income above this threshold. Most taxpayers take the standard deduction rather than itemising, but itemising can be more beneficial if deductible expenses exceed the standard deduction amount.
Why is my effective tax rate lower than my marginal rate?
Your marginal rate is the rate you pay on your last pound or dollar of income. Your effective rate is the average rate across your total income. Because tax systems use progressive brackets — lower earnings are taxed at lower rates — only the portion of income in each bracket is taxed at that rate. A UK earner on £60,000 has a marginal rate of 40% but an effective rate closer to 26% because the first £12,570 is tax-free and the next £37,700 is taxed at 20%.
What is the best free salary calculator?
ToolStack's salary calculator provides full UK PAYE and US Federal calculations with a complete deductions breakdown — income tax, NI, and FICA — shown per month and per year. It includes effective tax rate, a visual breakdown of where your salary goes, and honest notes about what is and isn't included. No signup, no data stored.
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