United Kingdom vs United States
United Kingdom applies progressive income tax up to 45%. United States applies income tax and social contributions. Enter each salary in its own currency, then pick a currency to compare them in.
Nothing compared yet. Add a country above, then change the country and add another to compare them side by side.
What each one leaves you, at four income levels
3.82 points apart in effective rate, in favour of United States
| Gross | United Kingdom rate | United States rate | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30,000 | 16.27% | 16.5% | 0.23 points |
| 60,000 | 24.4% | 20.58% | 3.82 points |
| 100,000 | 31.44% | 25.56% | 5.88 points |
| 150,000 | 39.14% | 28.96% | 10.18 points |
Different currencies. United Kingdom figures are in GBP and United States in USD, so the take-home amounts are not comparable and are not shown. Effective rates are comparable and are shown instead.
The two systems side by side
United Kingdom
- Personal Allowance
- Income Tax
- National Insurance (Class 1)
HM Revenue & Customs, 2026-08-16
United States
- Standard Deduction
- Federal Income Tax
- Social Security (OASDI)
- Medicare
Internal Revenue Service, 2026-08-16
These two tax years are not the same period. United Kingdom runs its 2026/27 year from 04-06 to 04-05, and United States runs its 2026 year from 01-01 to 12-31. Figures are compared at the rates in force in each country's current year, which is the convention most people mean when they ask what they would keep in each place today.
A salary is not a standard of living. Converting both figures into one currency makes them comparable in units, not in what they buy. Housing, healthcare and everyday costs differ far more than the exchange rate suggests.