PaychecklyIs £28,000 a Good Salary in the UK?
It's a solid salary, just below the UK median. The UK median full-time salary is around £37,000, so £28,000 is a little below the UK median.
How £28,000 compares to the UK average
The median full-time salary in the UK is around £37,000 (ONS, latest data), and the mean is closer to £44,000 — pulled up by very high earners. The "average" most people mean is the median, so that's the fairer benchmark.
£28,000 is approaching the UK median full-time salary of £37,000 — better than roughly 40% of full-time workers. It's a respectable wage for most regions and a strong one outside the most expensive cities.
What £28,000 gets you after tax
A headline salary isn't what lands in your account. On £28,000, after Income Tax and National Insurance, your take-home is about £23,680 a year — roughly £1,973 a month for the 2026/27 tax year.
This comfortably covers rent and essentials across most of the UK with room to save, though London living will still feel stretched. You remain a basic-rate (20%) taxpayer.
The honest verdict
£28,000 is a perfectly decent salary — close to the national median and comfortable in most of the country. Whether it's 'good' for you depends mostly on your location and household costs.
See the full £28,000 take-home breakdown ›Is a different salary good?
"Good" is relative — it depends on your location, household, age and cost of living. Comparisons use ONS median full-time earnings. Take-home assumes the 1257L tax code, no student loan or pension, and residency in England, Wales or NI. Use the calculator for your exact figure.