How £48,000 is taxed
The first £12,570 is your tax-free Personal Allowance, leaving £35,430 of taxable income. At £48,000 your top slice of pay falls in the basic rate, so each extra £100 of salary is worth about £72 after Income Tax and National Insurance.
- £7,086.00 at 20% on £35,430 (basic rate)
- £2,833.92 National Insurance: 8% on monthly earnings between £1,048 and £4,189
With a student loan, a pension or in Scotland
| £48,000 salary | Take-home / year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (England, Wales, NI) | £38,080 | £3,173 |
| Living in Scotland | £37,024 | £3,085 |
| With a Plan 2 student loan | £36,412 | £3,034 |
| With a Plan 5 student loan | £36,016 | £3,001 |
| Paying 5% into a pension | £36,160 | £3,013 |
A Scottish taxpayer on £48,000 takes home £1,056 less a year, because of Scotland's 42% higher rate. A Plan 2 student loan takes £1,668 a year (9% above £29,385). A 5% relief-at-source pension puts £2,400 into your pot for £1,920 of take-home pay.
Compared with nearby salaries
£47,000 takes home £37,360 (£3,113 a month). £49,000 takes home £38,800, so the extra £1,000 of salary is worth £720 after tax. You are £2,270 below the higher-rate threshold (40%).
What £48,000 could borrow for a mortgage
At a typical 4.5× income multiple a single applicant on £48,000 might borrow about £216,000. Over 25 years at the average 5-year fixed rate of 4.98%, that costs £1,260 a month — 39.7% of take-home pay. Lenders also check affordability, so debts and childcare can reduce it. See the mortgage affordability calculator for your own figures.
£48,000 as an hourly rate
For a 37.5-hour week over 52 weeks, £48,000 is £24.62 an hour before tax and £19.53 after tax. Compare with an hourly job in the hourly to salary calculator.
Figures assume a normal 2026/27 tax year, tax code 1257L, monthly pay and no other income or benefits. Use the take-home pay calculator to add your tax code, pension, bonus or student loan.