Answers · UK 2025/26

What is the take-home pay for a qualified accountant in the UK?

A newly qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) in the UK typically earns around £48,000 a year. On £48,000 in 2026/27, take-home pay after £7,086 Income Tax and £2,834.40 National Insurance is £38,079.60 a year, or about £3,173.30 a month.

Last updated: 3 July 2026Last reviewed: 3 July 2026How we verify

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Newly qualified accountants holding the ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification typically earn between £40,000 and £55,000 a year in the UK, with practice-based roles at large firms and industry finance roles both common destinations, and London salaries generally running higher than the rest of the country. On a representative salary of £48,000 for 2026/27, the tax-free Personal Allowance covers the first £12,570, and the remaining £35,430 is taxed at the 20% basic rate, giving £7,086 Income Tax. National Insurance is 8% of the same £35,430, giving £2,834.40. Total deductions of £9,920.40 leave take-home pay of £38,079.60 a year, around £3,173.30 a month, before any pension contribution. Accountants who progress into senior, manager or partner roles often cross the £50,270 higher rate threshold and, at more senior levels, the £100,000 Personal Allowance taper threshold, where the effective marginal tax rate reaches 60% on income between £100,000 and £125,140 -- many accountants at this level use additional pension contributions to bring their adjusted net income back below £100,000 and avoid this taper. Bonus payments, common in accountancy, particularly around year-end, are taxed as ordinary employment income through PAYE in the month received.