How Will My Second Job Be Taxed?

Originally written by Josh Hall, updated by the editorial team on 2nd April 2026

Mr M.Y. asks

If you have two jobs, does the second job get taxed more at all, even if the salary of both jobs combined is less than 34k?

Many people seem to think that second jobs are taxed at a higher rate. We have previously received questions regarding the tax treatment of a part-time job if the worker is drawing a private pension (see Is It Worth Taking a Part-Time Job On A Pension?), and much the same principle applies in your case. There is no separate rate of tax for a second job, although this is likely to affect your non-taxable personal allowances, and your tax code.

If you're confused about how your personal allowance has been split between your jobs, you can check what your tax code means using our free Tax Code Explainer.

Non-taxable Personal Allowance

In the first instance, it is important to note that you have one non-taxable personal allowance per year, regardless of the number of jobs you have. For the 2025-26 tax year, this is set at £12,570. This non-taxable allowance will apply to just one of your jobs. As such, you will probably receive your allowance on your first job, meaning that the first £12,570 earned from this source will be free from tax. However, once you have used that allowance, all other income will be taxed at the normal rate.

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Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Earnings Threshold

You have mentioned that your combined salary is less than £34,000. For the 2025-26 tax year, the earnings threshold for the basic tax bracket is £50,270. As such, if your total income is less than this, it will all attract income tax at a rate of 20% for this tax year. You should also remember that you will almost certainly be liable for National Insurance Contributions, which will be paid at a rate of 12% for annual earnings between £12,571 and £50,270.

Finally, you are likely to find that your tax code changes if you take on a second job. If you will continue to be a basic rate tax payer, your code will change to BR for 'basic rate', which means all income from that job is taxed at the basic rate. For more information on understanding your tax code, you may wish to read What Is My Tax Code?

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Income Tax Calculator lets you enter your salary and get a clear breakdown of your income tax, National Insurance, and take-home pay for the 2025/26 tax year. See exactly where your money goes. Try it now →

Showing 20 of 434 questions

Ask The Tax Guide a Question

TheTaxGuide Editor 29/03/2026 at 7:12 pm

@Lindy I understand your frustration with the tax on your second job. Consider speaking to HMRC about splitting your tax allowance between both jobs, which might help balance the tax burden.

Lindy 19/10/2020 at 5:52 pm

I have 2 jobs cleaner at club on a morning on which I don't pay tax but I work at factory on backshift as cleaner and I get hammered on tax is it worth while do the first job at club as I feel it isn't worth it

TheTaxGuide Editor 29/03/2026 at 7:13 pm

@SS That does sound frustrating, especially when your tax seems so much higher than your colleagues on the same salary. With your combined income of about £26,640, you should typically pay around £2,800 in income tax annually, or roughly £233 per month. The fact you're paying £380 suggests something might be wrong with your tax code.

This could happen if HMRC hasn't properly split your personal allowance between your two jobs, or if they think you owe tax from a previous year. I'd strongly recommend calling HMRC on 0300 200 3300 to check your tax codes for both jobs. They can usually sort this out quickly over the phone and arrange a refund if you've overpaid. Your apprentice status shouldn't affect your tax rate, just your NI contributions.

SS 15/10/2020 at 1:20 pm

I am currently an apprentice and I pay NI at code H, my pay is £24,000 a year and I also work 16hrs a month for a charity role which is also paid at £220pm, how much tax should I e paying? (My collegues are paying around £170pm tax for the same job and salary as me, yet I am paying £380pm tax which is nearly my whole charity role pay pm on top of the tax from my apprenticeship.)

Ryan 11/10/2020 at 6:45 pm

I have a main job salaried at 18,500 per year and a second job at £6.50 per hour working around 30/40 hours per week. How much roughly should I get taxed?

Bre 07/10/2020 at 8:38 pm

I will be starting a 24 hr a week job. Plus2nd job at 8 hrs a wk . How much taxwill i pay. Basic rate pay

tiff 08/09/2020 at 9:31 am

i currently work 40 hours a week on £20,000 a year, but have taken on part time employment which is 15 hours a week on minumum wage £8.72 per hour. What tax will i pay?

ade 25/08/2020 at 7:31 am

I have got a full time job , I earning 33000 a year and I started a part time self employed job last month hoping to earn 10,000 a year how much tax and NI will pay in my self employed job

Jas 02/07/2020 at 6:20 pm

Hi I have 2 jobs my first job I get paid 1150 second job paid 362 after tax it is BR tax but I'm sure on both my jobs I am getting taxed to much can you help

Caramel 30/05/2020 at 11:21 am

I currently have a full time job and wonder if I get a second job, is it worth it? If earning under 40k (doing both jobs and still yearly earnings come to a total of less than 40k), will I only be taxed a maximum of 20% on all of my income? or will I be paying more than a total of 20% as i have two jobs? Please clarify as I'm a little confused.
Just to be clear. You can work multiple jobs however will only pay 20% tax on your total earnings if you earn under 43k?
So, if for some reason, I get charged more tax than 20% i can claim back at the end of the tax year? Why would I be on different tax codes? It's so confusing!!
Many thanks

Dee 06/05/2020 at 1:54 pm

I'm currently working full-time, as from next week I will be going part-time, and at the same time starting a new part-time job for another company. Separately each job would be below the threshold for student loan repayment, but combined above the threshold. How do I continue my payments. Also what would my tax code be going forward.

Kel 20/04/2020 at 12:14 pm

Hi I have been offered two jobs and want to work out if I accept what would I be taxed or what will I take home after tax and NI. First job is 30k per year and the second is 10k per year. Can you please advise how this works please.

Kt 02/04/2020 at 5:28 pm

I have a job at the moment earning about 5k a year . If I get another job earning about 1000 a year both as part time . Will it affect my tax if I take on another job even though both are under 12k ? Can anyone help ?

Leelee 29/11/2019 at 11:47 am

I worked 48 hours a wk but hey paid for 44 hours a wk iv been offered a second job but only on bank would I have to pay tax on both and would j have to pay 20% on my second job even though its bank work

Terri2019 08/11/2019 at 6:05 pm

Hi guys I have just started my second job my 1st job I work 21 hours at 8.35 an hour also my other job I work 35 hours and 8.50 and hour plus 400 for sleeps how will my tax work out thanks

Tay 06/11/2019 at 8:57 pm

I’m doing a Cleaning job 10hrs a week I be taking on a second job 12 hrs a week both job pay 8.21 hr how much will I get taxed from second job

Dan17 25/10/2019 at 12:23 pm

Hi, thanks in advance for your help!

My first job pays 18k annually (approx 1300 a month), my second, that I'm starting next week, will pay me about 3k (approx 500 a month) annually. Any idea how much I'll get taxed in total?

Cherral 16/10/2019 at 11:15 am

I am a director of my husband's company getting paid £1500 per month. I would like to have a casual 25hr job at 8.60 per hour. Would my husband's company pay tax or would it be my second job?

Lazarus 01/10/2019 at 7:51 pm

I have two part time jobs 1st job 18hrs a week at £8.21 2nd job 12hrs a week at £8.65 an hour, both paid monthly... Anybody any idea what the tax and ni may work out at?

leigh 26/09/2019 at 4:44 pm

I have been looking for a cleaning job two hours on a morning and two on an evening. I'm on working tax credits. I have been offered the hours with two different companies so will be classed as having two jobs. How will this effect me with tax credits and the amount of tax i pay as its working ten hours with one company and ten hours with another

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