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Updated for 2025/26

£31,493 vs £48,238 Salary Comparison

Compare a £31,493 salary against £48,238. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£16,745
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,004.70
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£60,282
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£31,493£48,238Difference
Gross Salary£31,493£48,238£16,745
Income Tax£3,785£7,134£3,349
National Insurance£1,514£2,853£1,340
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£26,195
£38,251
£12,056
Take-Home (Monthly)£2,183£3,188£1,005
Effective Tax Rate16.8%20.7%3.9%

£31,493

Gross£31,493
Take-Home£26,195
You Keep83.2%

£48,238

Gross£48,238
Take-Home£38,251
You Keep79.3%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£31,493

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,784.60
National Insurance£1,513.84
Take Home (Monthly)£2,182.88

£48,238

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£7,133.60
National Insurance£2,853.44
Take Home (Monthly)£3,187.58

What £1,004.70 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
£12,056.40/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease

Full Comparison: £31,493 vs £48,238

£31,493

  • Gross Pay£31,493.00
  • Take Home (Year)£26,194.56
  • Take Home (Month)£2,182.88
  • Effective Tax Rate16.8%

£48,238

  • Gross Pay£48,238.00
  • Take Home (Year)£38,250.96
  • Take Home (Month)£3,187.58
  • Effective Tax Rate20.7%

The difference in take-home pay is £12,056 per year, which works out to £1,004.70 per month.