Salary · pay rise · deductions
Salary percentage calculator – pay rise, deductions and subscription
Work out a pay rise in pounds, the share of deductions from gross pay, a trade union subscription and a rough estimate of take-home pay. Every percentage is editable, because they depend on your contract, your union and your tax code.
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A pay rise: what a percentage means in pounds
Pay negotiations talk in percentages, but your own budget runs on pounds. A three per cent rise on a £2,400 salary is £72 a month and £864 a year. The same three per cent on a £4,200 salary is £126 a month. So a percentage rise widens pay gaps, while a flat cash rise for everyone narrows them – a recurring point of contention in negotiations.
| Gross pay | +1% | +2% | +3% | +5% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £2,200 | 22.00 | 44.00 | 66.00 | 110.00 |
| £2,800 | 28.00 | 56.00 | 84.00 | 140.00 |
| £3,400 | 34.00 | 68.00 | 102.00 | 170.00 |
| £4,200 | 42.00 | 84.00 | 126.00 | 210.00 |
Remember the rise is gross. What reaches your account depends on your tax code: at a marginal rate of around 32% (20% Income Tax + 12% is illustrative only), a £100 gross rise nets roughly £68 after tax and National Insurance. A rise can also push part of your income into a higher band, so the net effect can be smaller than the estimate.
What is deducted from gross pay
A UK payslip typically has three main percentage deductions plus any voluntary ones.
| Item | Employee share | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | Per your tax code | Personal. Banded: 20% basic, 40% higher, 45% additional, above the Personal Allowance. |
| National Insurance | 8% (main rate) | Employee Class 1 on earnings within the main band; 2% above the upper limit. Confirmed each year. |
| Workplace pension | 5% (auto-enrolment) | Minimum employee contribution on qualifying earnings under auto-enrolment. Your scheme may differ. |
| Student loan | Plan-dependent, e.g. 9% | Only above the plan's threshold. Add it under "Other percentage". |
| Trade union subscription | By union, often ~1–2% | Voluntary. Check your own percentage with your union. |
We don't assume anything for you. The calculator's defaults are the current main employee rates (NI 8%, auto-enrolment pension 5%), but you can change every field. We don't guess your Income Tax rate at all – it's always personal and is on your payslip or in your HMRC account.
A trade union subscription as a percentage
In most unions the subscription is a percentage of gross taxable pay. The percentage varies by union, and many unions have reduced rates for students, the unemployed and those on family leave. Some unions charge a flat amount instead of a percentage.
That's why the calculator has no built-in union percentages: it would easily give the wrong figure. Look up your own percentage on your union's website and enter it in the field. A union subscription may be tax-deductible in some circumstances – check the current rules that apply to you.
The take-home estimate – and what it is not
The take-home estimate tells you what's left of gross pay after the percentages you enter. It's useful when you want to compare two job offers or estimate the effect of a rise.
This is an estimate, not an official calculation. In the UK your Income Tax and National Insurance are banded: they depend on the Personal Allowance, income thresholds and your tax code. The defaults shown are the current main rates; enter your own figures. For an official estimate of your tax position, use HMRC's own tools, and get your actual payslip from your employer.
The calculator also ignores benefits in kind, bonuses, mileage allowances and attachment of earnings. If you want to look at the effect of the tax rate alone, use the tax percentage calculator, where you can also compare two different tax rates against each other.
Pension income and other income types
Pension income is taxed differently from a salary: pensioners have their own allowances, and pension income does not carry National Insurance in the same way earned income does. So the same amount of pension and salary leaves a different net figure. If you're working out the net of a pension, set the National Insurance and pension fields to zero and use your own tax rate.
The basics of salary calculation
The calculator does the percentage maths on the numbers you enter. Income Tax is always personal, so it is not guessed for you.
Formulas and examples
Pay rise
pay × (1 + rise / 100)Example
£2,850 + 3.5%: 2,850 × 1.035 = £2,949.75, i.e. +£99.75/mo.
Note
The figure is gross. What you keep is less.
Deduction from pay
pay × percentage / 100Example
8% of £3,200: £256.00.
Note
The same formula works for any percentage-based deduction.
Trade union subscription
monthly pay × subscription % / 100Example
1.4% of £2,900: £40.60/mo, i.e. £487.20 a year.
Note
Every union has its own percentage and its own rules.
Take-home estimate
gross − Income Tax − NI − pension − subscription − otherExample
£3,000 gross, tax 20%, NI 8%, pension 5%: about £2,010.00.
Note
An estimate, not an official payslip.
Concepts and classification
| Gross pay | Pay before deductions. |
|---|---|
| Net pay | The amount paid to your account after deductions. |
| Income Tax | Tax deducted under PAYE according to your tax code. Personal. |
| National Insurance | Employee Class 1, main rate 8%, confirmed each tax year. |
| Workplace pension | Auto-enrolment employee minimum 5% of qualifying earnings. |
Limitations of the calculator
- The calculator doesn't know your Personal Allowance, tax bands or any higher-rate steps.
- Benefits in kind, bonuses, mileage allowances and attachment of earnings are not taken into account.
- Pension income is taxed differently from a salary – set the fields yourself.
- The result is not an employer payslip or an HMRC decision.
How up to date the information is
When it was checked
Content and the percentages used were checked on 12 August 2026.
Disclaimer
The calculator gives a mathematical result from the numbers you enter. It is not an official decision, an offer or professional advice. See the terms of use.
Topics
This calculator belongs to the following topic areas. On the topic page you'll find all the calculators and guides on the same theme in one place.
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Frequently asked questions about the salary percentage calculator
How do I work out a pay rise in pounds?
Multiply the gross pay by the rise percentage and divide by 100: 2,850 × 3.5 / 100 = £99.75 a month. Over a year the rise is twelve times that, about £1,197. Remember it is a gross figure.
How much of my pay goes to National Insurance and pension?
The employee National Insurance main rate is 8% on earnings within the main band, and auto-enrolment workplace pension is at least 5% of qualifying earnings for the employee. Both are confirmed each tax year, so check the current figures and edit the fields if needed.
How do I work out a trade union subscription?
Multiply the gross pay by your union's subscription percentage. For example 1.4% of £2,900 is £40.60 a month, about £487 a year. Rates vary by union, so check yours on the union's own website – we set no union default.
Is this an official payslip or a tax decision?
No. The calculator does the maths on the percentages you enter. Your real deductions depend on your tax code and thresholds, and your employer produces the actual payslip. For an official estimate of your tax, use HMRC's own service.
Why does the rise reach my account smaller than the calculator says?
Because the rise is gross. Income Tax, National Insurance and any pension contribution come off it. A rise can also push part of your income into a higher band, so the net effect is smaller than a flat percentage suggests.
Are my salary figures saved anywhere?
The share link on the salary page never includes the numbers you entered – it only takes you to the page. The calculation history is stored only in your own browser and you can clear it with one button.