Required Salary Calculator UK 2026/27
Start from the number that matters, what you need each month, and work backwards to the salary you should ask for.
| Required gross (annual) | £36,778 |
|---|---|
| Total deductions | £6,778 |
| Take-home (annual) | £30,000 |
Assumptions: England/Wales/NI, tax code 1257L, no pension or student loan. Solved by bisection against the same engine as the main calculator, accurate to the cent of the target.
Why you can't just multiply
Tax is progressive: the deductions on your last unit of income are higher than on the first. A fixed "multiply by X" rule of thumb is wrong at almost every income level, and badly wrong near thresholds. This tool inverts the full tax calculation instead, so the answer is exact under the stated assumptions. Fine-tune options like pension, loans or status in the main UK calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out the gross salary I need for a target take-home?
Enter your desired net monthly or annual pay and the calculator works backwards through Income Tax and National Insurance to give you the gross salary to ask for.
Does student loan repayment affect the calculation?
Yes. If you have a student loan, your required gross salary will be higher because repayments reduce take-home pay. Select your loan plan in the calculator.
Why is the gross salary higher than I expected?
Because each extra pound of gross pay is reduced by Income Tax and National Insurance before it reaches you. The marginal rate for most earners is 32% (20% tax plus 12% NI) so you need roughly £1.47 gross for every £1 net.