See what a pay rise is worth after tax and National Insurance. Enter your current salary and the rise, as a percentage or a yearly amount, and compare take-home pay before and after.
Results are estimates for planning. Check the figures before you make a financial or health decision.
How the Pay rise calculator works
The tool calculates your new gross salary from the rise, either as a percentage of your current salary or as a fixed yearly amount. It then runs both salaries through the same engine as the UK take-home pay calculator, using 2026/27 income tax, National Insurance and student loan rules for an employee with a standard tax code.
- Gross difference = new salary minus current salary, per year and per month.
- Take-home difference = take-home after the rise minus take-home before, per year and per month.
- Share you keep = take-home difference divided by the gross rise.
Pension is optional and defaults to 0%; if you enter a percentage it is applied to both salaries using the method you choose. Region and student loan can be set too. Bonuses, benefits, other income and Gift Aid are not included. A rise that takes your income over £100,000 loses more to the Personal Allowance taper, which the tool reflects.
Worked example
Using the default values in the calculator above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Current gross salary (per year) | 35000 |
| Pay rise given as | A percentage |
| Pay rise | 5 % |
| Where you live | England, Wales or Northern Ireland |
| Student loan | No student loan |
| Your pension contribution | 0 % of salary |
| How the pension is paid | Net pay (taken before tax) |
Extra take-home pay per month: £105.00
| New gross salary | £36,750 |
|---|---|
| Pay rise | £1,750 (5%) |
| Extra gross per month | £145.83 |
| Take-home now (per month) | £2,393.30 |
| Take-home after the rise (per month) | £2,498.30 |
| Extra take-home per year | £1,260 |
Tips and common mistakes
Compare the monthly take-home figures, since that is what changes your bank balance. If you pay into a pension as a percentage of salary, enter it, because the contribution rises with your pay. A rise that takes you into the higher-rate band or over a student loan threshold will keep a smaller share than one lower down. Compare the rise with inflation to see whether your buying power really improved. Use the salary comparison calculator if you are choosing between two job offers.
Frequently asked questions
How much of my pay rise will I keep?
It depends on the bands you fall in. Tax and National Insurance take part of the rise, and how much depends on your bands, so the tool shows the exact share for your figures.
Does a pay rise ever leave me worse off?
Rarely. A rise can push part of your income into a higher rate, but you always keep some of the extra. Check specific benefits and allowances through GOV.UK.
Should I enter my salary before or after tax?
Before tax, as a yearly gross figure. The tool works out the tax and National Insurance for you.
Guides that help
- How to work out your take-home pay from a UK salary
- UK income tax explained: bands, allowance and how it's worked out
- National Insurance for employees: what you pay and why