£30,000 Salary Breakdown (2025/2026)

Is £30,000 a good salary?

A salary of £30,000 is close to the UK average (median) for full-time employees. It is a very common salary for mid-level roles, experienced administrative staff, and many skilled trades. You remain in the Basic Rate tax band.

Your Taxable Income

On £30,000 per year, you get your Personal Allowance of £12,570 tax-free. The remaining £17,430 is taxable.

  • Income Tax (20%): You pay 20% on the £17,430 taxable portion, which is approx £3,486 per year.
  • National Insurance (8%): You pay 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £30,000, which is roughly £1,394.

Student Loan Repayments (The Thresholds)

At £30,000, you are now earning above the repayment thresholds for most student loan plans, so you will likely see deductions:

  • Plan 1 (Threshold ~£26,065): You earn about £4,000 over the threshold. 9% of this is ~£360/year (£30/month).
  • Plan 2 (Threshold ~£28,470): You earn about £1,500 over the threshold. 9% of this is ~£135/year (£11/month).
  • Postgraduate (Threshold £21,000): You earn £9,000 over the threshold. 6% of this is £540/year (£45/month).

Maximizing Your Take Home

Since you are in the 20% tax bracket, every £100 you put into a pension (via Relief at Source) only costs you £80 from your net pay, as the government adds the £20 tax back into your pension pot. This is a great way to save efficiently on a £30k salary.