Updated for 2025/26
£42,488 vs £47,488 Salary Comparison
Compare a £42,488 salary against £47,488. 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 | £42,488 | £47,488 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £42,488 | £47,488 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £5,984 | £6,984 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £2,393 | £2,793 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £34,111 | £37,711 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £2,843 | £3,143 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 19.7% | 20.6% | 0.9% |
£42,488
Gross£42,488
Take-Home£34,111
You Keep80.3%
£47,488
Gross£47,488
Take-Home£37,711
You Keep79.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£42,488
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,983.60
National Insurance£2,393.44
Take Home (Monthly)£2,842.58
£47,488
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£6,983.60
National Insurance£2,793.44
Take Home (Monthly)£3,142.58
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: £42,488 vs £47,488
£42,488
- Gross Pay£42,488.00
- Take Home (Year)£34,110.96
- Take Home (Month)£2,842.58
- Effective Tax Rate19.7%
£47,488
- Gross Pay£47,488.00
- Take Home (Year)£37,710.96
- Take Home (Month)£3,142.58
- Effective Tax Rate20.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.