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Updated for 2025/26

£31,480 vs £45,480 Salary Comparison

Compare a £31,480 salary against £45,480. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£14,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£840.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£50,400
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£31,480£45,480Difference
Gross Salary£31,480£45,480£14,000
Income Tax£3,782£6,582£2,800
National Insurance£1,513£2,633£1,120
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£26,185
£36,265
£10,080
Take-Home (Monthly)£2,182£3,022£840
Effective Tax Rate16.8%20.3%3.4%

£31,480

Gross£31,480
Take-Home£26,185
You Keep83.2%

£45,480

Gross£45,480
Take-Home£36,265
You Keep79.7%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£31,480

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,782.00
National Insurance£1,512.80
Take Home (Monthly)£2,182.10

£45,480

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£6,582.00
National Insurance£2,632.80
Take Home (Monthly)£3,022.10

What £840.00 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
£10,080.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease

Full Comparison: £31,480 vs £45,480

£31,480

  • Gross Pay£31,480.00
  • Take Home (Year)£26,185.20
  • Take Home (Month)£2,182.10
  • Effective Tax Rate16.8%

£45,480

  • Gross Pay£45,480.00
  • Take Home (Year)£36,265.20
  • Take Home (Month)£3,022.10
  • Effective Tax Rate20.3%

The difference in take-home pay is £10,080 per year, which works out to £840.00 per month.