£21 an hour is how much a year?
At 37.5 hours a week, £21 an hour is £40,950 a year before tax, or about £33,004 a year after tax in the UK.
Fewer if you take unpaid time off
Paid at 1.5× your rate
Yearly salary, before tax
£40,950
37.5 hours a week × 52 weeks
Take-home pay after tax
£33,004a year · £2,750 a month
- Take-home£33,004
- Tax and deductions£7,946
Average tax rate 19.4% · £16.92 an hour after tax
What this means
A raise of £1 an hour adds about £1,950 a year before tax, so small raises add up.
Your pay before tax
| Per hour | £21.00 |
| Per day (5-day week) | £157.50 |
| Per week | £787.50 |
| Per month | £3,412.50 |
| Per year | £40,950.00 |
After tax (2026/27)
| Per year | Per month | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | £40,950 | £3,413 |
| Income Tax | -£5,676 | -£473 |
| National Insurance | -£2,270 | -£189 |
| Take-home pay | £33,004 | £2,750 |
Assumptions in this estimate
- Take-home pay assumes a single person with no pension, retirement or other pre-tax deductions.
- Assumes the standard 1257L tax code and a full year in the same job.
- National Insurance is worked out for each pay period; this estimate works it out for the year, which can differ by a few pounds.
- Pension contributions are a percentage of your full salary; some workplace schemes use qualifying earnings (£6,240 to £50,270) instead.
- Marriage Allowance, Blind Person’s Allowance and the High Income Child Benefit Charge are not included.
- You can choose one undergraduate student loan plan (plus a postgraduate loan). With more than one plan, you repay 9% of earnings above the lowest threshold.
- Above £100,000 the figures are your yearly tax bill with the Personal Allowance reduced; on a 1257L code your payslips may take less until HMRC updates your code.
If you work more or fewer hours
| Hours a week | Per week | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | £420 | £1,820 | £21,840 |
| 30 | £630 | £2,730 | £32,760 |
| 37.5 | £788 | £3,413 | £40,950 |
| 40 | £840 | £3,640 | £43,680 |
| 45 | £945 | £4,095 | £49,140 |
Before tax, at the same rate for every hour (no overtime pay).
£21 an hour after tax
| Year | Month | Week | Hour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | £40,950 | £3,413 | £788 | £21.00 |
| Income Tax | -£5,676 | -£473 | -£109 | -£2.91 |
| National Insurance | -£2,270 | -£189 | -£44 | -£1.16 |
| Take-home pay | £33,004 | £2,750 | £635 | £16.92 |
In Scotland, which sets its own income tax rates, £21 an hour takes home £32,929 a year (£75 less).
Assumes the 1257L tax code, no pension contributions or student loan, and rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland unless stated. Full-time at 37.5 hours a week. Uses 2026/27 tax rules.
Open the full take-home pay calculatorFrequently asked questions
How much is £21 an hour a year?
£40,950 a year before tax, working 37.5 hours a week for 52 weeks (1,950 hours).
How much is £21 an hour a month?
£3,413 a month before tax. Months vary in length, so this is the yearly amount divided by 12.
How much is £21 an hour after tax?
About £33,004 a year, or £2,750 a month, for an employee working 37.5 hours a week in the UK. That's £16.92 an hour after tax.
How much is £21 an hour per week?
£787.50 before tax, or about £634.68 after tax.