Updated for 2025/26
£25,742 vs £30,742 Salary Comparison
Compare a £25,742 salary against £30,742. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£300.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£18,000
cumulative
Entry-Level Career Progression
This comparison is typical for early career moves or first promotions. At this salary range, most of your income is taxed at the basic rate (20%), so you keep a higher percentage of any raise.
- Negotiate hard - you keep ~70-80% of any increase at this level
- Consider employers offering good pension matching (often worth more than small salary differences)
- Look for roles with clear progression paths to higher bands
- Factor in benefits like free lunches, gym memberships, or transport subsidies
Compare Salaries
Enter multiple salaries to compare take-home pay for 2025/26
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £25,742 | £30,742 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £25,742 | £30,742 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £2,634 | £3,634 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £1,054 | £1,454 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £22,054 | £25,654 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,838 | £2,138 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 14.3% | 16.6% | 2.2% |
£25,742
Gross£25,742
Take-Home£22,054
You Keep85.7%
£30,742
Gross£30,742
Take-Home£25,654
You Keep83.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£25,742
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,634.40
National Insurance£1,053.76
Take Home (Monthly)£1,837.82
£30,742
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,634.40
National Insurance£1,453.76
Take Home (Monthly)£2,137.82
What £300.00 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
Full Comparison: £25,742 vs £30,742
£25,742
- Gross Pay£25,742.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,053.84
- Take Home (Month)£1,837.82
- Effective Tax Rate14.3%
£30,742
- Gross Pay£30,742.00
- Take Home (Year)£25,653.84
- Take Home (Month)£2,137.82
- Effective Tax Rate16.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.