European net salary calculators 2026 (gross to net by country)
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Pick a country to convert gross salary to net with the 2026 rules verified against official sources. Below, a comparison of how much each country deducts and why the same gross pays so differently across Europe.
Choose your country
United Kingdom: take-home pay 2026/27 — Income tax 20/40/45% above a £12,570 allowance; employee NI 8% then 2%.
United Kingdom: income tax by band — Tax split by band, Scottish rates, allowance taper above £100,000.
Germany: Brutto-Netto 2026 — Progressive income tax from 14% to 45%, Soli, church tax and about 20% social contributions.
France: salaire brut → net 2026 — About 22% employee contributions, then income tax withheld at source (PAS).
Spain: IRPF and Social Security 2026 — IRPF 19–47% by region, 6.47% employee social security.
Italy: stipendio netto from RAL 2026 — IRPEF 23/33/43%, INPS 9.19%, regional and municipal surcharges, 13th/14th months.
Portugal: salário líquido 2026 — IRS withholding tables and 11% Social Security, 14 payments a year.
Netherlands: netto salaris 2026 — Three Box 1 brackets, general and labour tax credits, 8% holiday allowance, 30% ruling.
Belgium: net salary 2026 — Progressive tax 25–50%, 13.07% social security, communal surcharge.
Poland: brutto → netto 2026 — ZUS 13.71%, 9% health contribution, PIT 12%/32% with the 30,000 PLN tax-free amount.
What each country deducts from gross pay (2026)
| Country | Income tax | Employee social contributions |
|---|---|---|
| UK | £12,570 allowance; 20%, 40%, 45% | NI 8% (£12,570–£50,270), 2% above |
| Germany | 14–42% progressive (45% top); allowance €12,348 | ≈ 20.4% (pension 9.3, health 7.3+½ Zusatz, care 1.8–2.4, unemployment 1.3) |
| France | 0–45% progressive, withheld at source | ≈ 21–23% (sécurité sociale, retraite, CSG/CRDS) |
| Spain | 19–47% progressive (state + region) | 6.47% (4.7 common + 1.55 unemployment + 0.1 training + MEI) |
| Italy | 23%, 33%, 43% + regional/municipal | 9.19% INPS |
| Portugal | 13–48% progressive (IRS) | 11% Segurança Social |
| Netherlands | 35.75%, 37.56%, 49.5% (incl. national insurance) | None withheld (employer pays WW/WIA/Zvw); own health premium ≈ €155/month |
| Belgium | 25–50% progressive + communal tax | 13.07% RSZ/ONSS |
| Poland | 12% to 120,000 PLN, 32% above; 30,000 PLN tax-free | 13.71% ZUS + 9% health (not deductible) |
Why the same gross salary pays so differently
Three things drive the gap between gross and net in Europe. First, who pays social security: Dutch employees have almost nothing withheld because their employer pays unemployment, disability and the health levy, while Belgian and German employees see 13–20% go before tax. Second, how fast the tax brackets rise: Poland taxes 12% up to 120,000 PLN, Spain and Italy reach 43–47% much earlier relative to average wages, and the UK's 40% band starts at £50,270. Third, allowances and credits: the UK personal allowance (£12,570), the Dutch tax credits (up to €8,800 combined) and the German Grundfreibetrag (€12,348) shield the first slice of income, whereas Belgium and France rely more on deductions and family quotient.
On a €50,000 gross salary a single employee keeps, roughly, 69–72% in the UK and the Netherlands, 65–68% in Spain, France and Poland, and 60–63% in Germany, Italy and Belgium (where high social contributions and progressive rates bite earlier). Pensions, 13th or 14th months (Italy, Portugal, Spain), holiday allowances (Netherlands) and regional surcharges change the monthly figure, which is why each calculator models its own country's conventions.
Frequently asked questions
Which European country has the highest take-home pay?
For a typical single employee the Netherlands and the UK keep the largest share of gross pay thanks to employer-paid social charges and large allowances; Belgium, Germany and Italy keep the least.
Do the calculators use 2026 rules?
Yes. Each calculator was built from the 2026 official tables (Budget 2026 in the Netherlands, 2026/27 UK thresholds, German Rechengrößen 2026, Polish ZUS and PIT parameters) and shows a worked example so you can check the figures.
Are 13th and 14th salaries included?
Where they are standard (Italy, Portugal, Spain with 14 payments) the calculator lets you choose the number of payments; the Netherlands adds the 8% holiday allowance.
Can I compare my salary between two countries?
Open two calculators with the same gross in euros (or pounds/złoty converted) and compare the net per month; remember to account for cost of living and housing, which this page does not cover.
Are the results exact?
They are close estimates for a standard employee. Pension schemes, benefits in kind, regional rates, family situation and company agreements change the real payslip; the pages list what each model leaves out.
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