mytakehome.money

Salary check · UK · 2026

Is £30,000 a good salary?

Is £30,000 a good salary in the UK?

£30,000 is a low salary in the UK. It puts you in roughly the 25th percentile — you earn more than about 25% of full-time workers, and it's £9,039 below the UK median of £39,039. Your take-home is about £2,093 a month.

Verified 12 August 2026

25th percentile You're in the lower quarter of earners
You earn more than about 25% of full-time workers — many are early-career or part-time-equivalent.
Individual vs household. As an individual salary this sits comfortably clear of low-income territory. Whether it's enough for a whole household depends on how many people it supports, your region, and housing costs — the UK's official poverty line is measured on household income after benefits, not a single salary.

What £30,000 actually means

The UK median full-time salary is £39,039 (ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2025). At £30,000 you're earning £9,039 less than the typical full-time worker.

Your take-home pay on £30,000

Gross salary£30,000
Income tax£3,486
National Insurance£1,394
Take-home (year)£25,120
Take-home (month)£2,093

See the full breakdown → or adjust for pension and student loan.

Is it good for your age?

£30,000 is above the median for people aged 18–21. Pay peaks in the 40–49 band at £44,244.

Is it good where you live?

Location changes everything. London's median is £47,500 and the North East's is £35,100 — so £30,000 stretches much further in some regions than others. Outside London and the South East it goes considerably further.