Reverse Salary Calculator UK
Find the gross salary you need to ask for to take home a specific amount after tax for 2026/27. Enter your target monthly or annual take-home pay and we'll work back to the gross salary, allowing for income tax, National Insurance, pension and student loan deductions.
Calculator
What this means
Most salary calculators go from gross to net. This one works the other way: you tell it the take-home pay you want, and it finds the gross salary that delivers it once income tax, National Insurance and any pension or student loan deductions are taken off. It's useful for setting a salary expectation in a job offer, a freelance-to-PAYE move or a pay negotiation.
Frequently asked questions
Take-home pay rises predictably with gross salary, so the calculator searches for the gross figure that nets your target after income tax and National Insurance. For example, taking home £2,500 a month (£30,000 a year) needs a gross salary of roughly £36,800 in 2026/27 with no pension or student loan.
Yes. Add your pension contribution percentage and student loan plan and the required gross salary rises to cover them, because both are deducted before your pay reaches your account.
It's a close estimate rounded up to the nearest pound so your take-home is never short of the target. Your actual pay can vary with your tax code, benefits in kind, the exact Scottish rates and other deductions.
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates for guidance only. It is not financial, legal or tax advice. Always check official sources or speak to a qualified professional before making decisions.
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