After Tax Calculator
Where Your Money Goes
Full Breakdown: £31,000 Salary
| Deduction | Annual | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £31,000.00 | £2,583.33 | £596.15 |
| Income Tax | £3,686.00 | £307.17 | £70.88 |
| National Insurance | £1,474.40 | £122.87 | £28.35 |
| Take-Home Pay | £25,839.60 | £2,153.30 | £496.92 |
Understanding Your £31,000 Salary After Tax
If you earn £31,000 per year in the UK, your employer will deduct £3,686.00 in income tax and £1,474.40 in National Insurance contributions during the 2025/26 tax year. This leaves you with a net take-home pay of £25,839.60 annually. Use our after tax calculator to adjust for pension and student loan deductions.
Tax-Free Investing with ISAs
On £31,000, if you invest 15% of your take-home (£3,876/year) into a Stocks and Shares ISA, all capital gains and dividends grow completely tax-free. At a historical average return of 7% annually, £3,876 invested each year would grow to approximately £53,489 over 10 years. The annual ISA allowance of £20,000 means your £3,876 annual savings fits well within the limit. Starting early matters enormously — the difference between starting at 25 versus 35 can mean hundreds of thousands of pounds by retirement.
Commuting Costs vs Take-Home Pay
Commuting is effectively an invisible salary reduction. An annual train season ticket averaging £2,800 consumes 11% of your £25,840 net pay — and crucially, this comes from already-taxed income. Car commuting (fuel, insurance, parking, maintenance) typically costs around £4,500/year (17% of net pay). A 10-minute remote working negotiation could save you more than a 5% pay rise. When evaluating a £31,000 offer, subtract realistic commuting costs first to see your true disposable income — it can be surprisingly different between two identically-paid roles.
Understanding Your Tax Code
On a £31,000 salary, your PAYE tax code is likely 1257L. The "1257" represents your £12,570 Personal Allowance divided by 10, and "L" means you qualify for the standard allowance. If your tax code on your payslip doesn't match what you expect, contact HMRC — an incorrect code could mean you're over or underpaying tax throughout the year. Common causes of incorrect codes include untaxed benefits, estimated earnings from a second job, or outdated Marriage Allowance claims.
National Insurance on £31,000
Your NI bill of £1,474 breaks down into two parts: £1,474 at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270. Unlike income tax, NI has no personal allowance — it applies from the first pound above the threshold. NI contributions build your entitlement to the State Pension (currently £221.20/week at the full new State Pension rate), Maternity Allowance, and bereavement benefits. You need 35 qualifying years for the full State Pension.
Household Income Perspective
If both partners earn £31,000, the combined household take-home would be £51,679/year (£4,307/month). In a typical dual-income household where one partner earns 70% of the other, combined net income would be approximately £43,927/year. This household income significantly changes your financial profile — mortgage lenders assess joint applications using combined salaries (potentially £237,150 borrowing capacity), and many means-tested benefits have household income thresholds rather than individual ones.
For comparison: someone earning £20,000 per year takes home £17,920, and someone earning £50,000 per year takes home £39,520.
Monthly & Weekly Take-Home
Your £31,000 salary breaks down to £2,153.30 per month, £496.92 per week, or £99.38 per working day. If you work a standard 37.5-hour week, that's approximately £12.42 per hour after tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
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