Cardiff · Entry-level · 2026

£32,000 Software Engineer
in Cardiff

A entry-level Cardiff software engineer earning £32,000 takes home £2,213/month after tax and NI. Average 1-bed rent is £900/month, leaving £1,313/month after rent — a tight financial position for Cardiff's cost base.

Gross
£32,000
entry-level
Net monthly
£2,213
after tax & NI
After rent
£1,313
per month
Savings est.
£403
per month
Stretched — rent takes 41% of take-home. Consider a shared house or outer-area flat.

Monthly Budget — Entry-level Software Engineer in Cardiff

Item Monthly
Gross annual salary £32,000/yr
Income tax −£324/mo
National Insurance −£130/mo
Net monthly take-home £2,213/mo
Rent (1-bed median) −£900/mo
Council tax −£132/mo
Transport −£50/mo
Groceries & utilities −£388/mo
Estimated monthly savings £403/mo

Tax computed using HMRC 2025/26 rates. Rent = Rightmove Q4 2025 median. Savings estimate deducts a £340 misc. buffer from remaining income.

Software Engineer Salary Range in Cardiff

This page shows the entry-level salary (£32,000) — 70% of the median (£46,000).

P25 — Lower quartile
£37,000
25% earn less than this
Median — 50th percentile
£46,000
midpoint of all earners
P75 — Upper quartile
£57,000
25% earn more than this

Compare by Experience Level

Entry — £32,000 Mid — £46,000 Senior — £64,500

vs Cardiff City Median

Entry-level Software Engineer
£32,000
vs
Cardiff all-worker median
£30,500
5% above Cardiff median

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is £32,000 a good software engineer salary in Cardiff? +
£32,000 is the entry-level software engineer salary in Cardiff, representing 70% of the median (£46,000). Net take-home is £2,213/month after tax and NI. Rent-to-income is 41%tight. At 5% above the Cardiff all-worker median of £30,500, this is a competitive salary for the city.
What is the average software engineer salary in Cardiff? +
The median Cardiff software engineer salary is £46,000 (ONS 2025). The lower quartile (P25) is £37,000 and the upper quartile (P75) is £57,000. Entry-level roles typically start around £32,000, while senior professionals reach £64,500.
How much can a software engineer in Cardiff save each month? +
On £32,000 in Cardiff, after rent (£900/mo), council tax (£132/mo), transport (£50/mo) and groceries & utilities (£388/mo), estimated monthly savings capacity is approximately £403/month.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a software engineer in Cardiff? +
On £32,000 in Cardiff, the rent-to-income ratio for a 1-bed flat is 41%. The guideline for comfortable solo living is under 33%. To achieve a 33% RTI on a Cardiff 1-bed (£900/mo), you need approximately £32,500 gross annual salary.

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