Salary & Work
Salary Calculator South Africa 2026 — Take-Home Pay
Turn your gross salary into real take-home pay. See exactly what you keep each month after PAYE income tax, UIF and SDL deductions using 2026 SARS rates.
✓ Updated with 2026 rates•✓ Free & no sign-up•✓ Instant results
Take-home pay
Live gross-to-net · PAYE & UIF · 2026 SARS rates
R
Your full salary before any deductions
Age sets your SARS tax rebate (65+ and 75+ get extra).
Monthly take-home pay
R28 534
after PAYE and UIF · R342 403 per year
Gross (monthly)
R35 000
PAYE tax
R6 289
UIF (1%)
R177.12
Effective tax rate
18.0%
A gross salary of R35 000 per month leaves about R28 534 take-home after R6 289 PAYE and R177.12 UIF — roughly R342 403 a year.
How your take-home is worked out
- PAYE income tax using the 2026 SARS sliding scale and your age-based rebate
- UIF at 1% of gross, capped at R177.12 per month (R17 712 earnings ceiling)
- SDL (1%) is paid by your employer, not deducted from your pay
- Voluntary pension, RA or medical aid contributions further reduce your PAYE and take-home
2026 SARS income tax brackets
| Taxable income (per year) | Rate |
|---|---|
| R0 – R237 100 | 18% |
| R237 101 – R370 500 | R42 678 + 26% of excess |
| R370 501 – R512 800 | R77 362 + 31% of excess |
| R512 801 – R673 000 | R121 475 + 36% of excess |
| R673 001 – R857 900 | R179 147 + 39% of excess |
| R857 901 – R1 817 000 | R251 258 + 41% of excess |
| R1 817 001 and above | R644 489 + 45% of excess |
Primary rebate R17 235; add R9 444 at 65+ and a further R3 145 at 75+. This is an independent estimate for South Africa based on standard PAYE and UIF, not tax advice — your payslip may include other deductions.
How the gross-to-net salary calculator works
The calculator uses the 2026 SARS tax tables to work out PAYE on your gross salary, then subtracts UIF and SDL to show your exact monthly take-home pay. Enter your gross figure and it does the rest, so you can plan around the amount that actually reaches your bank account.
Gross to net
Start from your full gross salary and see what remains after every statutory deduction.
2026 SARS rates
PAYE is calculated on the current tax brackets, rebates and thresholds.
UIF & SDL
UIF at 1% (capped at R177.12/month) and SDL are accounted for automatically.
Instant results
No sign-up — change your salary and the take-home figure updates immediately.
What gets deducted from your salary
PAYE income tax
Withheld monthly by your employer using the SARS sliding scale and paid over on your behalf.
UIF
1% of your gross salary, capped at R177.12 per month, matched by your employer for unemployment cover.
Voluntary deductions
Pension or retirement fund, medical aid and group life cover further reduce take-home pay.
Gross salary vs cost to company
Gross salary
The amount your PAYE and take-home pay are calculated from — the figure on your payslip before deductions.
Cost to company (CTC)
Your gross plus all employer contributions (their UIF share, retirement, medical aid and benefits). CTC is usually higher than gross, so always confirm which figure an offer quotes.
Make the most of your take-home pay
Retirement contributions
Pension, provident fund and RA contributions are deductible up to 27.5% of income (max R350,000/year), lowering your PAYE.
Tax-free savings
Earn 100% tax-free growth on up to R36,000 per year in a Tax-Free Savings Account.
Plan around bonuses
A 13th cheque is taxed as normal income and can push you into a higher bracket that month, so budget for a smaller net bonus.
Check your payslip
Confirm PAYE, UIF and any voluntary deductions match what you expect, and that your employer is paying SARS over correctly.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
What is the difference between gross pay and take-home (net) pay?
Gross pay is your full salary before any deductions. Take-home pay (net pay) is what actually lands in your bank account after PAYE income tax, UIF and any other deductions like a pension or medical aid have been subtracted from your gross.
What gets deducted from my salary in South Africa?
The two statutory deductions on every payslip are PAYE (income tax withheld by your employer using the SARS tax tables) and UIF (1% of your gross salary, capped at R177.12 per month). On top of these you may have voluntary deductions such as a retirement fund, medical aid or group life cover.
How do I calculate my take-home pay?
Start with your gross monthly salary, work out the PAYE due using the 2026/2027 SARS brackets and subtract your tax rebates, then subtract PAYE and 1% UIF (and any pension or medical aid contributions). What remains is your monthly take-home pay. This calculator does all of that for you instantly.
What is the difference between cost to company and gross salary?
Cost to company (CTC) is the total amount your employer spends on you, including your gross salary plus employer contributions such as their share of UIF, retirement fund, medical aid and group benefits. Your gross salary is the portion of CTC that forms the basis for your PAYE and take-home pay — it is usually lower than the headline CTC figure.
Is a 13th cheque or bonus taxed differently?
No, a 13th cheque or annual bonus is taxed as part of your normal taxable income, not at a special rate. Because it is paid on top of your salary it can push you into a higher marginal bracket for that month, so more PAYE is withheld and your take-home portion of the bonus feels smaller than your regular salary.