If you’re earning £15 an hour, it’s only natural to wonder how much of that actually ends up in your pocket after tax, National Insurance (NI), and other deductions. In this guide, we’ll break down what £15 an hour looks like in terms of annual salary and monthly take-home pay based on the latest 2025/26 UK tax rates.

Gross Annual Salary on £15/hour

Assuming you work a standard 37.5-hour week for 52 weeks a year:

• Hourly Rate: £15
• Weekly Hours: 37.5
• Annual Salary: £15 x 37.5 x 52 = £29,250

This puts you just below the UK median salary.

2025/26 Income Tax and NI Breakdown

Using a standard tax code of 1257L and no student loan or pension deductions:

• Income Tax: 20% on income over the personal allowance (£12,570)
• National Insurance: 8% on income above £12,570 up to £50,270, and 2% above that

On a salary of £29,250:

• Taxable Income: £16,680
• Estimated Income Tax: £3,336
• Estimated NI: ~£1,336

Estimated Take-Home PayAfter deductions:

• Annual Take-Home Pay: ~£24,578
• Monthly Take-Home: ~£2,048
• Weekly Take-Home: ~£473
• Daily Take-Home (Mon-Fri): ~£94.60

You can use our Take-Home Pay Calculator to get a personalised breakdown, which includes pension contributions, student loan repayments, and tax code changes.

Should You Consider Pension Contributions?

If you're auto-enrolled into a pension scheme, typically 5% of your gross income is deducted. That would be £1,462.50 per year. Since pension contributions lower your taxable income, your overall tax and NI bills also reduce. Use our calculator to test out the difference.

Final Thoughts

Earning £15 an hour in the UK in 2025 gives you a take-home pay of just over £2,000 per month, assuming full-time hours and standard tax settings. However, your net pay can change based on your pension status, benefits, or student loans.

Use our smart salary calculator to see exactly what you’ll earn and how much goes to tax, NI, and beyond.