Earning £30,000 per year is a common milestone for early-career professionals in the UK. But while the headline figure may seem straightforward, your actual take-home pay can look quite different once income tax, National Insurance, pension contributions, and student loan repayments are deducted. In this article, we break down exactly how much you can expect to receive in your bank account each month in 2025.
UK Salary & Tax Breakdown Calculator
If you live in Scotland, income tax is calculated differently.
Rates and thresholds set by Scottish Government.
A common tax code is “1257L” meaning £12,570 tax-free allowance. Check your payslip, P60, or HMRC letter for your correct code.
• Plan 1: Started before September 2012 in England/Wales
• Plan 2: Started after September 2012 in England/Wales
• Plan 4: Scottish students
• Postgraduate Loan: For master’s/PhD courses
Your payslip or SLC account will confirm your plan.
How Much Do You Take Home on a £30,000 Salary?
Here’s a breakdown of the estimated deductions and net income for someone earning £30,000 annually in the 2025/26 tax year:
| Description | Amount (2025) |
|---|---|
| Gross annual salary | £30,000 |
| Income tax | £2,486 |
| National Insurance (NI) | £1,328 |
| Student loan (Plan 2) | £243 |
| Pension (5% contribution) | £1,500 |
| Net annual salary | ~£24,443 |
| Monthly take-home pay | ~£2,035 |
These figures are based on standard assumptions and may vary depending on your exact tax code, pension scheme, and student loan plan.
Income Tax on a £30,000 Salary
As of the 2025/26 tax year, the personal allowance remains at £12,570. This means you don’t pay any income tax on the first £12,570 of your earnings. The remaining £17,430 is taxed at the basic rate of 20%, which results in approximately £2,486 in income tax annually.
There is no higher-rate tax liability on a £30,000 salary.
National Insurance Contributions (NICs)
For 2025, you’ll pay Class 1 National Insurance at 8% on earnings above the primary threshold (which also aligns with the personal allowance of £12,570). This means you’ll pay NI on £17,430 of your salary, amounting to around £1,328 per year.
Pension Contributions (5%)
Most employees are automatically enrolled in a workplace pension scheme unless they opt out. If you’re contributing 5% of your salary, that’s £1,500 per year deducted before tax. Since pension contributions reduce your taxable income, they also slightly lower your tax and NI payments.
Employers typically add a 3% contribution on top, which doesn’t come out of your pay.
Student Loan Repayments (Plan 2)
If you’re repaying a Plan 2 student loan (most common for graduates since 2012), you’ll only start repayments once you earn over £27,295. At £30,000, that means you’ll repay 9% on £2,705 — which equals approximately £243.45 per year, or around £20 per month.
If you’re on Plan 5 (for new students from 2023 onwards), the threshold is lower at £25,000, which would increase your repayment amount slightly.
Monthly Take-Home Pay
Taking into account tax, National Insurance, a 5% pension contribution, and Plan 2 student loan repayments, your monthly net income on a £30,000 salary would be approximately £2,035.
If you opted out of your pension and had no student loan, your take-home pay could rise to around £2,180 per month.
How Tax Codes Affect Your Take-Home Pay
This article assumes you’re on the standard tax code 1257L, which applies to most people with no additional allowances or deductions. If your code is different due to company benefits, previous underpayments, or multiple income sources, your monthly take-home could change. Always check your tax code on your payslip or with HMRC if you’re unsure.
Take-Home Pay Comparisons
Let’s look at a few possible variations:
| Scenario | Monthly Take-Home |
|---|---|
| No pension, no student loan | ~£2,180 |
| With 5% pension, no student loan | ~£2,103 |
| With student loan, no pension | ~£2,138 |
| With pension and student loan (default) | ~£2,035 |
These comparisons show how much even small deductions like student loans or pension contributions can affect your monthly income.
Is £30,000 a Good Salary in the UK?
A £30,000 salary is slightly below the UK’s average full-time salary (which hovers around £34,000–£35,000 depending on the year). It can offer a decent quality of life outside of major cities, particularly in regions with lower living costs. In London or the South East, however, your disposable income might feel tighter due to higher rent and transport costs.
Nevertheless, £30,000 is a respectable income, especially for those early in their careers or in graduate-level roles. It can also increase quickly with promotions, bonuses, or side income.
While a £30,000 salary may look simple on paper, your actual take-home pay depends on multiple factors — from your pension contributions to student loan plan and tax code. Knowing exactly what you’ll receive after deductions helps you budget better, plan your savings, and make informed decisions about things like salary sacrifice or repaying loans early.
If you’d like a precise calculation based on your exact situation, try our UK Salary Calculator to get your monthly, weekly, or daily take-home pay.