Class 1 (C+E) take-home pay calculator
| Base pay | £44,000 |
| Income tax | −£5,908 |
| National Insurance | −£2,363 |
| Pension (auto-enrolment) | −£1,888 |
| Take-home pay | £33,840 |
2026/27 tax model. Auto-enrolment pension is 5% of qualifying earnings (£6,240–£50,270).
At a glance
On £44,000 a year gross, including night premiums and overtime, you'd keep about £2,820 a month after tax, National Insurance and pension.
How reliable is this figure?
This is an estimate, not a payslip preview. It runs on the 2026/27 tax model (Personal Allowance £12,570; employee National Insurance at 8% up to £50,270, then 2%) and the pay dataset named on this page, reviewed 23 September 2026.
Your actual take-home depends on your tax code, contract terms, overtime patterns and any benefits or deductions your employer applies. If a figure here looks surprising, check it against your latest payslip and the HMRC guidance linked under Sources below.
Scotland uses different income tax bands — toggle your nation in the calculator above. Wales follows the England bands.
Illustration: £20 an hour for 40 paid hours a week, 2026/27 (England)
| Hourly rate used | £20.00 |
| Paid hours per week × 52 weeks | 40 × 52 |
| Computed gross annual pay | £41,600.00 |
| Auto-enrolment pension (5% of qualifying earnings) | −£1,768.00 |
| Income tax | −£5,452.40 |
| Employee National Insurance | −£2,180.96 |
| Annual take-home pay | £32,198.64 |
| Monthly take-home pay | £2,683.22 |
Assumptions and pay data
- The £17.74–£22.99 hourly range is Breakroom’s worker-reported estimate, not an official Tesco pay scale.
- Breakroom reports 38 quiz responses collected May 2025–April 2026; its page was last updated 21 April 2026.
- The worked example uses £20 per hour, 40 paid hours a week and 52 paid weeks. Gross annual pay is computed as rate × hours × weeks.
- Take-home uses England 2026/27 tax, auto-enrolment pension and no student loan or other deductions.
- Actual pay depends on your written contract, site, rota, premium rules and paid hours. Check the current job advert and offer letter.
How to read Tesco HGV pay information
The survey range and what it measures
The range on this page comes from Breakroom’s Tesco HGV and LGV driver pay answer, rather than from the general Tesco store-pay announcement or an old job advert. Breakroom labels the result an average pay range and states that it is based on quiz data supplied by workers. The displayed page says it was last updated on 21 April 2026 and identifies 38 responses from May 2025 to April 2026.
That gives the reader useful context, but it also sets a limit. A survey range can include different locations, experience levels, shift patterns and contract terms. It does not tell you that every Tesco driver earns the top or bottom of the range, nor does it establish a current rate for a particular distribution centre. The sample is modest compared with Tesco’s workforce, and workers who choose to answer an online pay quiz may not represent everyone.
For those reasons, treat £17.74–£22.99 as a dated indication from a named survey source. Do not multiply the top figure by a guessed rota and call that a typical Tesco salary. Ask the recruiter for the basic rate, the hours guaranteed in the contract, and which premiums are attached to which shifts. Keep the answer with the written offer so you can compare it later.
Questions to ask before accepting an offer
Start by asking for the basic rate and the exact shift pattern in writing. Confirm whether the advertised number is a basic day rate, a blended rate or a maximum that includes nights, weekends or overtime. A higher figure can be real and still apply only to a limited set of hours. Ask which part of the week attracts each premium and whether the premium is paid on every hour in that window.
Next, pin down paid time. Ask how many hours the contract guarantees, how breaks are treated, whether there is a fixed rota, and how the employer calculates holiday pay. If there is overtime, find out whether it is voluntary or required, when the enhanced rate starts, and whether overtime is calculated from basic pay or another rate. A recruiter should be able to explain the terms without asking you to infer them from a survey.
Finally, check what happens when the rota changes. Find out how much notice is normally given for shift changes, how rest days work, and whether you can refuse additional shifts. Compare pension, holiday, sick pay, uniform, training and any bonus terms as written in the contract. These details shape the value of the job even when the hourly rate is identical.
Turning an hourly offer into a fair comparison
The worked example uses an hourly rate inside the cited Breakroom range and a stated 40 paid hours each week for 52 weeks. The gross annual amount is computed directly from those inputs. It is a calculation scenario that makes the assumptions visible, not an estimate of what Tesco guarantees. If your contract has fewer hours, unpaid gaps or seasonal changes, replace the inputs with the pattern you expect to work.
Compare that annualised number with any salary offer by dividing the salary by the actual expected hours over the year. If overtime is necessary to reach the advertised total, show it separately. That helps reveal whether one role pays more because the rate is higher or because it expects longer weeks. It also prevents a weekly take-home estimate from being mistaken for a fixed monthly salary.
The calculator applies the site’s 2026/27 tax model to gross annual pay. In the example, it assumes England tax bands, employee National Insurance and a 5% auto-enrolment pension on qualifying earnings. It does not include a student loan or bespoke employer deductions. Select your nation and loan plan in the calculator, then compare the result with your own payslip once you start the role.
Tesco HGV work and the job itself
Tesco HGV roles are part of retail distribution: drivers move goods between depots, stores and other points in the supply chain. The job combines safe vehicle operation with keeping to delivery plans and representing the retailer at customer sites. The exact balance of trunking, store delivery and depot work depends on the location and the vacancy, so ask what a normal shift involves rather than relying on a broad job title.
The licence and experience requirements also belong to the individual vacancy. Some roles ask for C+E, a current Driver Qualification Card and a digital tachograph card; some specify a minimum period of driving experience. Check the vacancy you are applying for, since an older or closed advert may describe conditions that no longer apply.
If you are comparing Tesco with another operator, use the same basis for both: basic hourly rate, guaranteed paid hours, overtime rules, shift premium, pension and holiday terms. The general HGV pay hub gives national Class 1 and Class 2 benchmarks, while our Class 1 page explains how artic pay, nights and agency work compare across the wider market.
Method, review and contact
How this page handles employer pay data
We name the publisher, update date, collection period and response count beside the Tesco range so readers can judge how much weight to place on it. We do not present the survey estimate as an official Tesco scale. Before making a decision, check the active vacancy and the terms in your offer. We reviewed this page on 4 October 2026.
The site’s methodology page describes the tax calculation and editorial process. The About page covers the publication, and the contact page is available if you spot a source or figure that needs correction.
Tesco HGV driver pay FAQs
How much does Tesco pay HGV drivers per hour?
Breakroom reports an estimated range of £17.74–£22.99 an hour for Tesco HGV and LGV drivers. The page says it was last updated on 21 April 2026 and is based on 38 quiz responses collected between May 2025 and April 2026. This is a worker-reported estimate, not a guaranteed Tesco rate or a company-published pay scale.
Is the Breakroom range an official Tesco pay rate?
No. Breakroom describes it as an estimate based on worker quiz responses. The sample provides context but may not represent every depot, contract, experience level or shift. Use it as one reference point and ask Tesco recruitment for the basic rate and premiums in the current vacancy.
What does £20 an hour work out to after tax?
At 40 paid hours a week across 52 weeks, £20 an hour computes to £41,600 gross a year. The worked example on this page estimates £32,198.64 annual take-home, or £2,683.22 a month, after the modelled pension, income tax and National Insurance. It assumes England tax bands for 2026/27 and no student loan or other deductions.
Do Tesco HGV drivers earn the same at every depot?
The Breakroom range does not establish a single rate for every Tesco depot. The rate attached to a vacancy may depend on location, shift, contract and premium rules. Check the current advert and ask the recruiter for the written terms that apply to the site you are considering.
What licence do I need to drive an HGV for Tesco?
The requirement depends on the vacancy. A Class 1 artic role generally calls for category C+E and a professional driver qualification, but you should read the current job listing for its exact licence, experience and card requirements. Our Driver CPC guide explains the professional qualification.
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Sources
- Breakroom — What’s the average pay for an HGV driver at Tesco?. Estimated £17.74–£22.99 per hour. Breakroom says the page was last updated 21 April 2026 and is based on 38 quiz responses collected between May 2025 and April 2026. Accessed 4 October 2026.
- GOV.UK — Income Tax rates and allowances 2026/27. Tax model reference for the worked take-home example; accessed 4 October 2026.
- GOV.UK — National Insurance. National Insurance model reference for the worked take-home example; accessed 4 October 2026.
- Private Sector Calculators — Methodology. Tax calculation, pension treatment and editorial review method; accessed 4 October 2026.
These are estimates for guidance only, not financial advice. Figures are taken from the sources listed above and were correct when this page was reviewed. Your actual pay depends on your contract, hours and tax code — check your payslip and HMRC guidance if anything looks off.