United Kingdom tax wedge & take-home pay
Europe · OECD Taxing Wages, 2023 data · Moderate wedge
In United Kingdom, the total tax wedge on a single average worker is 31.3% of total labour cost (ranked #28 of 38 OECD countries) — 3.5 points below the OECD average of 34.9%. That wedge is made of income tax 14.8% of gross, employee social security 8.9% of gross and employer social security 11.2% of labour cost. The worker keeps a net 76.3% of gross pay as take-home. These are modelled OECD averages for a representative worker, not your personal tax.
Source: OECD Taxing Wages. Data as of June 2026 (OECD Taxing Wages, 2023 data year).
How United Kingdom's labour cost splits
For every unit an employer in United Kingdom spends on an average single worker, this is roughly where it goes — net pay versus the three components of the wedge:
- Net take-home pay: 67.5%
- Income tax: 13.3%
- Employee social security: 8%
- Employer social security: 11.2%
- Net take-home pay: 68%
- Income tax: 12.8%
- Employee social security: 8%
- Employer social security: 11.2%
Income tax and employee contributions are reported by the OECD as a share of gross wage; we rescale them onto total labour cost so the four segments sum to 100%. Source: OECD Taxing Wages, 2023 data.
United Kingdom tax wedge at a glance
| Measure | Single, no kids | 1-earner, 2 kids |
|---|---|---|
| Total tax wedge | 31.3% | 27% |
| Personal income tax (of gross) | 14.8% | 14.3% |
| Employee social security (of gross) | 8.9% | 8.9% |
| Employer social security (of labour cost) | 11.2% | 11.2% |
| Net personal average tax rate | 23.6% | 18.8% |
| Gross labour cost (USD PPP) | $76,883 | $76,883 |
| Gross earnings (USD PPP) | $69,143 | $69,143 |
| Net take-home (USD PPP) | $52,790 | $56,145 |
Source: OECD Taxing Wages. Data as of June 2026 (OECD Taxing Wages, 2023 data year).
Modelled figures for a worker at 100% of the country average wage, from OECD Taxing Wages (2023 data year, CC BY 4.0). USD PPP figures are purchasing-power-parity adjusted so they are roughly comparable across countries. Not personal tax advice — verify on the source.
What the United Kingdom tax wedge means
The tax wedge answers a simple question: of everything it costs to employ an average worker in United Kingdom, how much never reaches the worker because it goes to income tax and social-security contributions? Here that share is 31.3%, which reads as a roughly mid-range labour-tax burden. Crucially, it includes employer social-security contributions (11.2% of labour cost) that don't show up on a payslip — so the headline burden is larger than the "net tax rate" a worker sees (23.6% of gross). For a one-earner family with two children the wedge falls to 27% once child-related benefits and reliefs are counted.
How United Kingdom ranks in the OECD
| Measure (single worker) | United Kingdom | Rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|
| Total tax wedge | 31.3% | #28 of 38 |
| Employer social security | 11.2% | #25 of 38 |
| OECD average wedge | 34.9% | — |
Countries with a similar tax wedge to United Kingdom
| Country | Tax wedge | Employer SSC | Net take-home (USD PPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (this country) | 31.3% | 11.2% | $52,790 |
| Iceland | 31.7% | 6.3% | $55,620 |
| Canada | 31.9% | 9.2% | $54,408 |
| United States | 29.9% | 8.1% | $50,954 |
| Japan | 33% | 15.6% | $41,562 |
| Australia | 29.2% | 6% | $52,668 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the tax wedge in United Kingdom?
For a single average worker with no children, the total tax wedge in United Kingdom is 31.3% of total labour cost (OECD Taxing Wages, 2023 data). That is 3.5 points below the OECD average of 34.9%. It combines income tax (14.8% of gross), employee social security (8.9% of gross) and employer social security (11.2% of labour cost). It is a modelled average, not your personal tax.
How much take-home pay does an average worker keep in United Kingdom?
An average single worker in United Kingdom keeps about 76.3% of their gross wage as net take-home — a net personal average tax rate of 23.6% (income tax plus employee social-security contributions). In USD PPP terms that is roughly $52,790 net from $69,143 gross. Employer social-security contributions of 11.2% sit on top of the wage and never appear on the payslip.
Does United Kingdom have high employer social-security contributions?
Employer social security in United Kingdom runs at 11.2% of total labour cost for an average single worker, ranking #25 of 38 OECD countries on that measure. Employer contributions are part of the tax wedge but are invisible on the payslip — they raise the cost of hiring without raising gross pay.
Is the tax wedge lower for families in United Kingdom?
Yes — for a one-earner married couple with two children the tax wedge in United Kingdom is 27%, versus 31.3% for a single worker, because child benefits and family tax reliefs reduce the net burden. The gap (4.4% of labour cost) is one measure of how much a country's tax-benefit system supports families.
Keep exploring
Not tax advice. Figures model a representative average worker at 100% of the country's average wage — not your personal situation. Your actual tax and take-home depend on your income level, brackets, allowances, family status and local rules. Verify with United Kingdom's tax authority and a qualified adviser. See our methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-29