£20,000 Internship Salary After Tax 2025-26
Take-home pay with and without Plan 2 student loan repayments.
Below Plan 2 threshold — £0 student loan repayment
Plan 2 repayments only begin on earnings above £27,295. At £20,000, no student loan is deducted.
£20,000 internship — without vs with Plan 2 student loan
| Item | Without student loan | With Plan 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £20,000 | £20,000 |
| Income Tax | −£1,486 | −£1,486 |
| National Insurance | −£594 | −£594 |
| Student Loan (Plan 2) | — | −£0 |
| Annual take-home | £17,920 | £17,920 |
| Monthly take-home | £1,493 | £1,493 |
Plan 2 student loan during your internship
Student loan repayments are collected automatically through PAYE — they apply whether you are on a permanent contract, internship, or placement. If your internship is shorter than a full year, your actual repayment will be proportionally lower.
Frequently asked questions
Do interns pay Income Tax on a £20,000 salary?
Yes. At £20,000/year, your earnings exceed the £12,570 Personal Allowance. You pay Income Tax of £1,486 at 20% on earnings above £12,570. Tax is deducted automatically through PAYE by your employer.
Do interns pay National Insurance?
Yes. National Insurance applies to all employees on earnings above £12,570/year (£242/week), regardless of whether you are on an internship, a permanent contract, or a temporary placement. On £20,000/year, you pay £594 in NI at 8%.
Do I repay student loan during an internship on £20,000?
No. Your internship salary of £20,000 is below the Plan 2 repayment threshold of £27,295. No student loan is deducted. Repayments only start once your earnings exceed the threshold.
What is the take-home for a £20,000 internship after tax?
On a £20,000 internship salary, you take home £17,920/year (£1,493/month, £345/week) without student loan. After Income Tax of £1,486 and NI of £594, your effective tax rate is 10.4%.