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Updated for 2025/26

£24,210 vs £42,040 Salary Comparison

Compare a £24,210 salary against £42,040. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£17,830
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,069.80
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£64,188
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

£
£

Comparison Results

Metric£24,210£42,040Difference
Gross Salary£24,210£42,040£17,830
Income Tax£2,328£5,894£3,566
National Insurance£931£2,358£1,426
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£20,951
£33,788
£12,838
Take-Home (Monthly)£1,746£2,816£1,070
Effective Tax Rate13.5%19.6%6.2%

£24,210

Gross£24,210
Take-Home£20,951
You Keep86.5%

£42,040

Gross£42,040
Take-Home£33,788
You Keep80.4%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£24,210

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,328.00
National Insurance£931.20
Take Home (Monthly)£1,745.90

£42,040

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,894.00
National Insurance£2,357.60
Take Home (Monthly)£2,815.70

What £1,069.80 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
£12,837.60/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease

Full Comparison: £24,210 vs £42,040

£24,210

  • Gross Pay£24,210.00
  • Take Home (Year)£20,950.80
  • Take Home (Month)£1,745.90
  • Effective Tax Rate13.5%

£42,040

  • Gross Pay£42,040.00
  • Take Home (Year)£33,788.40
  • Take Home (Month)£2,815.70
  • Effective Tax Rate19.6%

The difference in take-home pay is £12,838 per year, which works out to £1,069.80 per month.