Updated for 2025/26
£38,400 vs £43,400 Salary Comparison
Compare a £38,400 salary against £43,400. 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
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 | £38,400 | £43,400 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £38,400 | £43,400 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £5,166 | £6,166 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £2,066 | £2,466 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £31,168 | £34,768 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £2,597 | £2,897 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 18.8% | 19.9% | 1.1% |
£38,400
Gross£38,400
Take-Home£31,168
You Keep81.2%
£43,400
Gross£43,400
Take-Home£34,768
You Keep80.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£38,400
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,166.00
National Insurance£2,066.40
Take Home (Monthly)£2,597.30
£43,400
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£6,166.00
National Insurance£2,466.40
Take Home (Monthly)£2,897.30
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: £38,400 vs £43,400
£38,400
- Gross Pay£38,400.00
- Take Home (Year)£31,167.60
- Take Home (Month)£2,597.30
- Effective Tax Rate18.8%
£43,400
- Gross Pay£43,400.00
- Take Home (Year)£34,767.60
- Take Home (Month)£2,897.30
- Effective Tax Rate19.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.