United States vs United Kingdom: tax wedge
For a single average worker, United States has the lighter tax wedge of the two: 29.9% of total labour cost versus 31.3% in United Kingdom — about 1.4% apart. United States's wedge splits into income tax 16.6%, employee social security 7.7% and employer social security 8.1%; United Kingdom's into 14.8% / 8.9% / 11.2%. United Kingdom leaves the worker more take-home (keeps 76.3% of gross). These are modelled OECD averages, not personal tax advice.
Source: OECD Taxing Wages. Data as of June 2026 (OECD Taxing Wages, 2023 data year).
United States vs United Kingdom side by side
| Measure (single worker) | United States | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Total tax wedge | 29.9% | 31.3% |
| Personal income tax (of gross) | 16.6% | 14.8% |
| Employee social security (of gross) | 7.7% | 8.9% |
| Employer social security (of labour cost) | 8.1% | 11.2% |
| Net personal average tax rate | 24.3% | 23.6% |
| Net take-home (USD PPP) | $50,954 | $52,790 |
| Gross labour cost (USD PPP) | $72,731 | $76,883 |
| Tax wedge — family (1 earner, 2 kids) | 19.7% | 27% |
| Region | North America | Europe |
Source: OECD Taxing Wages (CC BY 4.0). Single average worker at 100% of the average wage; monetary figures USD PPP.
Where each labour-cost dollar goes
- Net take-home pay: 69.4%
- Income tax: 15.4%
- Employee social security: 7.1%
- Employer social security: 8.1%
- Net take-home pay: 67.5%
- Income tax: 13.3%
- Employee social security: 8%
- Employer social security: 11.2%
Verdict
On the OECD tax wedge for a single average worker, United States taxes labour more lightly than United Kingdom — a 1.4% smaller wedge as a share of total labour cost. But the wedge is a blunt comparison: it models one standard worker, ignores your actual income, family and deductions, and says nothing about what the taxes fund. The composition matters too — a country can have a similar wedge built from very different mixes of income tax versus employer contributions. Read the full pages for United States and United Kingdom, and try the estimator on a real salary.
Frequently asked questions
Does United States or United Kingdom have the lower tax wedge?
United States has the lower tax wedge of the two: 29.9% of labour cost versus 31.3% for United Kingdom — a gap of about 1.4% of total labour cost for a single average worker. Both are measured against the OECD average of 34.9%. These are modelled averages, not personal tax.
Which keeps more take-home pay, United States or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom leaves the worker with more of their gross wage: a net personal average tax rate of 23.6% means they keep about 76.3% of gross, versus 75.8% in the other country. Note this "net rate" excludes employer social security, which still adds to the total wedge.
Why is the employer social-security difference between United States and United Kingdom important?
Employer social security is part of the tax wedge but never appears on the payslip: it raises the cost of employing someone without raising gross pay. United States charges 8.1% of labour cost in employer contributions versus 11.2% in United Kingdom. A high employer wedge means a worker on the same net pay costs the employer much more.
Should I compare United States and United Kingdom on the tax wedge alone?
No. The tax wedge is a model of an average single worker at 100% of the average wage — it ignores your income level, brackets, family status, deductions and what those taxes buy (healthcare, pensions, schooling). Use it as a directional signal, read each country's full page, and consult a tax adviser before relocating. Not tax advice.
More comparisons
Last updated: 2026-06-29