Updated for 2025/26
£42,990 vs £47,990 Salary Comparison
Compare a £42,990 salary against £47,990. 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 | £42,990 | £47,990 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £42,990 | £47,990 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £6,084 | £7,084 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £2,434 | £2,834 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £34,472 | £38,072 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £2,873 | £3,173 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 19.8% | 20.7% | 0.9% |
£42,990
Gross£42,990
Take-Home£34,472
You Keep80.2%
£47,990
Gross£47,990
Take-Home£38,072
You Keep79.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£42,990
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£6,084.00
National Insurance£2,433.60
Take Home (Monthly)£2,872.70
£47,990
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£7,084.00
National Insurance£2,833.60
Take Home (Monthly)£3,172.70
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: £42,990 vs £47,990
£42,990
- Gross Pay£42,990.00
- Take Home (Year)£34,472.40
- Take Home (Month)£2,872.70
- Effective Tax Rate19.8%
£47,990
- Gross Pay£47,990.00
- Take Home (Year)£38,072.40
- Take Home (Month)£3,172.70
- Effective Tax Rate20.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.