£38,000 Internship Salary After Tax 2025-26
Take-home pay with and without Plan 2 student loan repayments.
£38,000 internship — without vs with Plan 2 student loan
| Item | Without student loan | With Plan 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £38,000 | £38,000 |
| Income Tax | −£5,086 | −£5,086 |
| National Insurance | −£2,034 | −£2,034 |
| Student Loan (Plan 2) | — | −£963 |
| Annual take-home | £30,880 | £29,917 |
| Monthly take-home | £2,573 | £2,493 |
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 £38,000 salary?
Yes. At £38,000/year, your earnings exceed the £12,570 Personal Allowance. You pay Income Tax of £5,086 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 £38,000/year, you pay £2,034 in NI at 8%.
Do I repay student loan during an internship on £38,000?
Yes. Your salary of £38,000 exceeds the Plan 2 threshold of £27,295, so repayments of £963/year (£80/month) are automatically deducted through PAYE. This reduces your take-home from £30,880 to £29,917/year.
What is the take-home for a £38,000 internship after tax?
On a £38,000 internship salary, you take home £30,880/year (£2,573/month, £594/week) without student loan. After Income Tax of £5,086 and NI of £2,034, your effective tax rate is 18.74%.