Updated for 2025/26
£24,138 vs £42,138 Salary Comparison
Compare a £24,138 salary against £42,138. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£18,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,080.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£64,800
cumulative
Mid-Career Sweet Spot
This salary range often represents strong mid-career positions. You're still entirely in the basic rate tax band (20%), making raises very tax-efficient.
- Salary sacrifice for pension can be very efficient at this level
- Consider hybrid or remote roles - commuting costs can eat into raises
- This is often the best time to change industries for a salary bump
- Skills training and certifications can lead to significant jumps
Compare Salaries
Enter multiple salaries to compare take-home pay for 2025/26
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £24,138 | £42,138 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £24,138 | £42,138 | £18,000 |
| Income Tax | £2,314 | £5,914 | £3,600 |
| National Insurance | £925 | £2,365 | £1,440 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £20,899 | £33,859 | £12,960 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,742 | £2,822 | £1,080 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 13.4% | 19.6% | 6.2% |
£24,138
Gross£24,138
Take-Home£20,899
You Keep86.6%
£42,138
Gross£42,138
Take-Home£33,859
You Keep80.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£24,138
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,313.60
National Insurance£925.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,741.58
£42,138
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,913.60
National Insurance£2,365.44
Take Home (Monthly)£2,821.58
What £1,080.00 Extra Buys You
Real-world value of the take-home difference
Monthly Subscriptions
Netflix, Spotify, gym - £100.00/mo
Weekend Breaks
1-2 UK getaways per month at this budget
Savings Boost
£12,960.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £24,138 vs £42,138
£24,138
- Gross Pay£24,138.00
- Take Home (Year)£20,898.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,741.58
- Effective Tax Rate13.4%
£42,138
- Gross Pay£42,138.00
- Take Home (Year)£33,858.96
- Take Home (Month)£2,821.58
- Effective Tax Rate19.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £12,960 per year, which works out to £1,080.00 per month.