£26,000 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 £26,000, no student loan is deducted.
£26,000 internship — without vs with Plan 2 student loan
| Item | Without student loan | With Plan 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £26,000 | £26,000 |
| Income Tax | −£2,686 | −£2,686 |
| National Insurance | −£1,074 | −£1,074 |
| Student Loan (Plan 2) | — | −£0 |
| Annual take-home | £22,240 | £22,240 |
| Monthly take-home | £1,853 | £1,853 |
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 £26,000 salary?
Yes. At £26,000/year, your earnings exceed the £12,570 Personal Allowance. You pay Income Tax of £2,686 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 £26,000/year, you pay £1,074 in NI at 8%.
Do I repay student loan during an internship on £26,000?
No. Your internship salary of £26,000 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 £26,000 internship after tax?
On a £26,000 internship salary, you take home £22,240/year (£1,853/month, £428/week) without student loan. After Income Tax of £2,686 and NI of £1,074, your effective tax rate is 14.46%.