National Insurance calculator
Employee National Insurance on its own. This shows the Class 1 NI taken from your pay, how the 8% and 2% rates apply, and where each threshold sits.
Your National Insurance, band by band
| Band | Charged on | NI |
|---|---|---|
| Below £12,570 (0%) | None | £0 |
| Main rate 8% | £22,430 (£12,570 to £50,270) | £1,794 |
| Total NI | £1,794 |
How National Insurance is charged
Employee National Insurance works in slices, like income tax, but with its own thresholds. You pay nothing on the first £12,570 of yearly pay, the primary threshold. Between £12,570 and the £50,270 upper earnings limit you pay 8% on that slice. Above £50,270 the rate drops to 2% on the excess. NI is taken by your employer through PAYE each pay period, so the annual figure is spread across your payslips.
The falling rate above £50,270 is the part people find odd. Unlike income tax, which rises to 40% and 45% at the top, NI eases off to 2%. That is why a pay rise inside the 8% band feels heavier on NI than a rise well above the upper limit.
Worked example
On a £35,000 salary, £22,430 of pay sits above the £12,570 threshold and below £50,270. All of it is charged at 8%, so the National Insurance is £1,794 a year, about £150 a month. Nothing reaches the 2% band because the salary is under £50,270. Push the salary above that limit and only the slice over £50,270 switches to the lower 2% rate.
Common questions
How much National Insurance do I pay on £35,000?
On £35,000 you pay about £1,794 of employee National Insurance a year, roughly £150 a month. NI is charged at 8% on the part of your pay between £12,570 and £50,270, so the whole salary above the threshold is caught at 8%.
What are the National Insurance thresholds?
For 2026/27 employee Class 1 NI starts at the primary threshold of £12,570 a year. You pay 8% on earnings between there and the upper earnings limit of £50,270, then 2% on everything above £50,270.
Why does NI drop to 2% on higher earnings?
National Insurance is not a flat percentage. Once your pay passes the £50,270 upper earnings limit, the rate on the excess falls from 8% to 2%. So higher earners pay a smaller share of NI on the top slice of their pay than a basic-rate earner does.
Is National Insurance the same as income tax?
No. They are separate deductions with different thresholds and rates. This tool shows NI only. Income tax has its own personal allowance and bands. Use the income tax calculator or the take-home pay calculator to see the full picture.
Do the self-employed pay this?
No. This calculator is for employees on Class 1 NI paid through PAYE. The self-employed pay Class 4 NI on profits at different rates, worked out through Self Assessment.