Take-Home Pay Calculator: Salary After Tax (Ireland, UK, US)

How this take-home pay calculator works

Your salary on a job ad isn’t what lands in your bank account. Income tax and social insurance come off first, and often a pension contribution too. If you’re deciding whether to go back to work, take more hours or move to a new job, the number that matters is your monthly take-home pay. That’s what this take-home pay calculator shows.

Choose your country, type in your salary (per year, month or week) and say whether you’re single or married. If you have a partner, add their salary too, because in Ireland and the US married couples are taxed together. The result shows your take-home per month, per year and per pay period, plus a line-by-line breakdown of where the rest goes.

What gets taken off your pay

Ireland (2026 and 2027)

Irish workers pay three deductions: income tax (20% up to the standard rate band and 40% above it, minus tax credits), USC (0.5% to 8% on bands; nothing if you earn €13,000 or less) and PRSI (4.2% until September 2026, then 4.35%). A single person can earn €44,000 at 20% in 2026, rising to €46,500 in 2027 under Budget 2027.

Marriage makes a real difference in Ireland. Under joint assessment, a married couple or civil partners with one income get a €53,000 band at 20% and double the personal credit. If you both work, the band grows by the lower earner’s income, up to €35,000 extra. If one of you stays home with the children, the Home Carer Tax Credit (€1,950 in 2026) may suit you better. The take-home pay calculator picks whichever option gives you less tax. Single parents get a bigger band (€48,000) and the Single Person Child Carer Credit (€1,900).

United Kingdom (2026/27)

In the UK you get a £12,570 Personal Allowance tax-free. After that you pay 20% up to £50,270, 40% up to £125,140 and 45% above. Scotland has its own six bands, from 19% to 48%, and the calculator lets you choose. National Insurance is 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above that.

In the UK each partner is taxed on their own income, so getting married doesn’t change your bands. What it can change is the Marriage Allowance: if one of you earns under £12,570 and the other is a basic-rate taxpayer, you can transfer £1,260 of allowance and save up to £252 a year. The calculator adds this automatically when it applies. You still need to apply for it on GOV.UK.

United States (2026)

US take-home pay depends a lot on your filing status. Single filers get a $16,100 standard deduction, heads of household $24,150 and married couples filing jointly $32,200, with federal brackets from 10% to 37% above that. On top of that comes FICA: 6.2% Social Security (up to $184,500 of wages) and 1.45% Medicare. Each child under 17 can bring a Child Tax Credit of up to $2,200.

State taxes vary a lot. Some states have none, while others charge a flat rate or their own brackets. Add your state’s rough rate in the box to include it.

Why the monthly figure matters for parents

When you’re weighing up a job against childcare costs, compare the take-home number, not the salary. A €40,000 job doesn’t put €40,000 in your pocket; in Ireland it’s closer to €2,800 a month for a single person. Once you know your real monthly figure, run it through our Childcare vs. Work calculator to see what’s left after childcare.

If you’re also earning on the side (freelancing, tutoring, selling crafts), that income is taxed differently. Our Side Income Tax Checker tells you when you need to declare it.

What this take-home pay calculator doesn’t include

We keep it simple so the main number is easy to trust. It doesn’t include student loan repayments, benefits in kind (such as a company car or health insurance), bonuses taxed at different times, emergency tax, or US local and city taxes. It also leaves out benefits you might receive, such as Child Benefit or Universal Credit. Your payslip can be slightly different because employers spread allowances across the year. Treat the result as a good estimate, and check your payslip, Revenue, GOV.UK or the IRS for anything important.

Take-home pay calculator FAQs

Does getting married reduce my tax?

In Ireland, often yes. Joint assessment gives a couple a bigger 20% band and two personal credits, which helps most when one partner earns much less. In the US, filing jointly usually means less tax than filing as two single people. In the UK, marriage only helps through the Marriage Allowance, worth up to £252 a year.

Why is my payslip slightly different from this result?

Employers spread your allowances and credits evenly across pay periods, and your first payslips can include emergency tax or back pay. Pension schemes, health insurance and union fees also change the figure. This tool gives the full-year picture divided into months.

What tax year does this use?

Ireland: 2026, or 2027 using Budget 2027 rates. UK: 2026/27 (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027). US: tax year 2026. We check the figures each year after the Irish Budget, the UK Budget and the IRS inflation update.

Does a pension contribution lower my tax?

Yes. In Ireland it reduces income tax but not USC or PRSI. In the UK it reduces income tax, and with salary sacrifice it reduces National Insurance too. In the US a 401(k) or 403(b) contribution reduces federal (and usually state) income tax, but not Social Security or Medicare.

I’m going back to work part-time. Should I enter my part-time salary?

Yes. Enter what you’ll actually earn: your hourly rate × hours per week × 52, or simply your monthly pay with “per month” selected. Low part-time earnings often pay little or no tax, which is useful to know before you make a decision.

Is my information saved anywhere?

No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or stored.