Updated for 2025/26
£31,902 vs £42,840 Salary Comparison
Compare a £31,902 salary against £42,840. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£10,938
per year
Take Home Extra
+£656.28
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£39,377
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 | £31,902 | £42,840 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £31,902 | £42,840 | £10,938 |
| Income Tax | £3,866 | £6,054 | £2,188 |
| National Insurance | £1,547 | £2,422 | £875 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £26,489 | £34,364 | £7,875 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £2,207 | £2,864 | £656 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 17.0% | 19.8% | 2.8% |
£31,902
Gross£31,902
Take-Home£26,489
You Keep83.0%
£42,840
Gross£42,840
Take-Home£34,364
You Keep80.2%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£31,902
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,866.40
National Insurance£1,546.56
Take Home (Monthly)£2,207.42
£42,840
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£6,054.00
National Insurance£2,421.60
Take Home (Monthly)£2,863.70
What £656.28 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
£7,875.36/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £31,902 vs £42,840
£31,902
- Gross Pay£31,902.00
- Take Home (Year)£26,489.04
- Take Home (Month)£2,207.42
- Effective Tax Rate17.0%
£42,840
- Gross Pay£42,840.00
- Take Home (Year)£34,364.40
- Take Home (Month)£2,863.70
- Effective Tax Rate19.8%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,875 per year, which works out to £656.28 per month.