Free tools
Pay rise calculator
Enter your current salary and a rise as a percentage or a pound amount. See your new salary, how big the increase really is and how much more actually lands in your account each month after tax. Updated for the 2026/27 tax year.
Your new salary
–
a year
| Current salary | – |
|---|---|
| New salary | – |
| Extra take-home per month | – |
| Extra take-home per year | – |
How a pay rise really works
A pay rise is easy to quote but harder to picture. A "5% rise" or "an extra £1,500" only means something once you know your new salary and, more importantly, how much of it you actually keep. This tool turns a headline rise into three real numbers: your new salary, the size of the increase, and the extra take-home pay you pocket each month once Income Tax and National Insurance have taken their cut.
Why you do not keep all of a rise
Every extra pound of salary is taxed. On a standard tax code for 2026/27, most people pay 20% Income Tax and 8% National Insurance on the top of their pay, so you keep roughly 72p of each extra pound. Once your earnings pass £50,270, the part above that is taxed at 40% plus 2% National Insurance, so higher earners keep less of each extra pound. That is why the monthly figure below your new salary matters more than the headline percentage.
2026/27 rates used here
| Band | Taxable income | Income Tax | Employee NI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% | 0% |
| Basic rate | £12,571 to £50,270 | 20% | 8% |
| Higher rate | £50,271 to £125,140 | 40% | 2% |
| Additional rate | Over £125,140 | 45% | 2% |
If your salary is over £100,000, your personal allowance tapers away by £1 for every £2 you earn above that, which quietly raises the effective tax on a rise in that band. The calculator accounts for this automatically.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out a pay rise as a percentage?
Divide the increase by your current salary, then multiply by 100. For example, a £1,500 rise on a £30,000 salary is 1,500 divided by 30,000, times 100, which is a 5% rise. This tool does it both ways: enter a percentage and it shows the pound amount, or enter a pound amount and it shows the percentage.
Why is my take-home rise smaller than my pay rise?
Because you pay Income Tax and National Insurance on the extra pay. On a normal tax code most of a rise is taxed at 20% plus 8% National Insurance, so you keep around 72p of each extra pound. If the rise pushes you into the 40% higher rate, you keep even less of the part above £50,270.
Does a pay rise ever leave me worse off?
A pay rise almost never leaves you with less take-home pay overall, but the rate you keep can drop sharply in a couple of places: between £100,000 and £125,140 your personal allowance is withdrawn, which creates an effective 60% tax band, and crossing certain thresholds can affect benefits, student loan repayments or childcare support.
Is this calculator accurate for Scotland?
National Insurance is the same across the UK, but Scotland sets its own Income Tax bands and rates. If you are a Scottish taxpayer the monthly take-home change shown here will not match exactly, though the salary and percentage figures still apply.
How often should I expect a pay rise?
There is no legal requirement to give a pay rise beyond keeping you on at least the National Minimum or Living Wage. Many employers review pay once a year, often against inflation. If your pay has stood still while prices have risen, that is a fair thing to raise at a review.
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