General financial advice
Is 90k a good salary in the UK?
5 mins read
by
Regulated Advice Team
Last updated 30 June, 2025

If you are on alert for a new job or a position offering 90k, this is for you. A role offering 90k per year is pretty good in the UK compared to the average worker. You can expect a good take-home pay for 90k after tax in the UK.
A salary of £90,000 would exceed the national average of paid workers even after paying your taxes. The average wage in the UK is around £35,000 per year but may change in some areas.
How much is a 90k salary in the UK after taxes?
Let us look at how a salary of 90k after tax in the UK fares.
On a £90,000 salary, your take-home pay will be £62,000 after tax and National Insurance. This will be around £5,165 per month and £1,190 per week.
Besides, you might get daily wages if you work 5 days per week. To break this down further, it is £238 per day or £30 per hour at 40 hours per week.
Also, if you earn a specific salary or want to calculate it yourself, click here.
If you are working on a £60,000 salary, you might be interested in taking Home Pay for 60k.
How good is 90k after-tax UK?
Let's discuss a good salary or if 90k after tax in the UK is good enough. A good wage primarily relies on your living standards, how you live, and how you eat.
While having a large household means you need to provide a lot better. Your needs can also affect your standards; let's say you want more than what there is.
However, managing your savings is essential, as a good plan can make the most of your income. An after-tax income of £62,000 allows you to have savings and investing options.
So, managing your costs correctly can help increase your benefits, even to 90k after tax in the UK. Creating a proper plan can build funds and achieve a long-term financial goal to secure your future.
It is also essential to think about the cost of living in the specific area where you are living. However, expenses can differ significantly depending on the region or city in which you live.
What is the average salary in the UK?
Let us compare a £ 90,000 after-tax salary in the UK with the average salary and consider other available salary ranges for a £90,000 yearly income.
Looking at the data in 2023, the average wage of full-time workers was around £33,840 annually.
The official report is available on the Office of National Statistics website. In 2024, a pay of 90k would be around £62,000 after all taxes.
In contrast, this is nearly twice the national median income for full-time employees in 2023.
Besides, the data assumes that teachers work 30 hours per week full-time. As for the other positions, the full-time is around 37.5 hours a week.
The study will described further when we compare other regions around the UK. We can figure out the changes when we look at the numbers from all the cities.
Here is a table of the median wages in different parts of the UK,
Region Average
London £39,716
South East £36,560
Scotland £35,518
East £34,833
South West £33,450
North West £33,036
West Midlands £33,003
Northern Ireland £32,879
Wales £32,371
Yorkshire and The Humber £31,920
East Midlands £31,634
North East £31,200
The average income increases with increased living costs in areas such as London and the South East. So, the price is relatively low and cheap for average-wage workers in other cities.
What salary is the top 1% of the UK?
Earning 90k after tax in the UK annually means your take-home pay would be about £62,000. The top 1% means all the top-earning jobs or salaries in the UK. Looking at the list gives us a minimal number as there are only very few people at the top.
Unfortunately, a £ 90k after-tax income in the UK is insufficient to make it to the top list. An income of £5,165 per month is very low compared to the top 1%.
Yet, you will still have a good income that allows for a comfy lifestyle and offers many financial options. It's vital to note that these are general living costs, and individual situations can lead to cost differences.
For instance, lifestyle choices, entertainment, childcare costs, and personal choices all play a role in determining your overall cost. Budgeting and planning are essential tools for managing costs and achieving your financial goals.
But, if you need further security, you can talk to our financial advisors here.
What is a comfortable salary in the UK?
Proper planning and smart decisions are vital to achieve long-term financial security.
To determine whether you earn a good salary, we need to fully understand your expenses, such as your cost of living and other fees.
Added nutritionally, changes in economic condenses can influence the prices of goods and services over time.
But here are five key living costs that a person earning 90k after tax in the UK might cover.
Housing:
Housing costs are typically one of the most critical expenses for UK residents. This is due to having to pay rent or mortgage, property taxes, and home insurance.
The cost of living can vary by location. For example, major cities like London have higher costs than small towns.
Transportation:
These costs are mostly related to owning a car (fuel, insurance) or using public transport (bus, train, subway). If you live in a city with proper public transport, you might rely less on personal vehicles.
However, owning a vehicle can be expensive due to fuel prices and maintenance costs.
Food and Groceries:
The expense of shopping and groceries changes based on dietary preferences, where you shop, and eating habits.
The expense in some locations may be higher due to higher demand or transport costs.
Utilities:
Utilities include electricity, gas, water, internet services, and more, depending on your family's needs. The expense can vary from household to household due to increased energy usage, family size, house size, and provider.
Healthcare:
The UK has a mandatory healthcare system, the (NHS) National Health Service. Nonetheless, some of the costs are not fully covered, meaning there may be extra costs; in these cases, getting private health care to cover specific needs should be considered.
Additionally, family size and personal spending habits play a role in determining one's overall cost of living. The cost of living in the UK may change based on many factors, such as location and lifestyle.
What is a rich salary in the UK?
Whether a salary is rich or not, it is essential to look at the financial opportunities for saving with his income. Earning £5,165 per month might not be considered rich, but you have a decent possibility of investing.
You can have a few good saving options for 90k after tax in the UK.
Savings:
With a 90k after-tax in the UK, there is a huge chance to save and invest for the future.
By managing costs wisely, you can build up good savings over time, which you can use for the future and retirement.
Debt:
A higher income can give effective control over debts, student loans, credit cards, or mortgages.
Extra income allows for a faster repayment option and can help you become stable faster.
Investment:
Earning 90k after tax in the UK annually opens up many investment chances.
Investing in stocks, real estate, pension funds, or other opportunities can generate added income and grow wealth over time.
Retirement:
Individuals can pay more to retirement savings accounts like pensions or IRAs with a higher salary.
A yearly earning of 90k after tax in the UK can lead to a more secure future in retirement.
Future:
Assessing your goals is essential, whether buying a home, paying for education, starting a business, or travelling.
A higher salary, like 90k after tax in the UK, can help achieve these goals more quickly.
Finally, a salary of 90k after tax in the UK will always be good, regardless of your priorities. At the same time, this income may provide a very comfortable living and saving potential for many in the UK.
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Regulated Advice Team
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Our team of writers are here to help people with life's financial decisions.
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