Updated for 2025/26
£48,000 vs £73,000 Salary Comparison
Compare a £48,000 salary against £73,000. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£25,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,234.82
per month
You Keep
59%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£74,089
cumulative
Higher Rate Tax Threshold
One or both salaries cross the higher rate threshold (£50,271.00). Above this, you pay 40% tax on additional earnings, so the actual take-home difference is smaller than it appears.
- Pension contributions above £50,271 save 40% tax - very valuable
- Consider salary sacrifice schemes for electric cars or cycle-to-work
- Above £60k, child benefit starts being clawed back (if applicable)
- Equity or bonus structures may be more tax-efficient than base salary
Compare Salaries
Enter multiple salaries to compare take-home pay for 2025/26
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £48,000 | £73,000 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £48,000 | £73,000 | £25,000 |
| Income Tax | £7,086 | £16,632 | £9,546 |
| National Insurance | £2,834 | £3,471 | £636 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £38,080 | £52,897 | £14,818 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £3,173 | £4,408 | £1,235 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 20.7% | 27.5% | 6.9% |
£48,000
Gross£48,000
Take-Home£38,080
You Keep79.3%
£73,000
Gross£73,000
Take-Home£52,897
You Keep72.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£48,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£7,086.00
National Insurance£2,834.40
Take Home (Monthly)£3,173.30
£73,000
Tax BandHigher Rate
Marginal Rate40%
Income Tax£16,632.00
National Insurance£3,470.60
Take Home (Monthly)£4,408.12
Tax Band Change: This salary increase crosses from the Basic Rate (20%) into the Higher Rate (40%). The portion above £50,270.00 will be taxed at the higher rate.
What £1,234.82 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
£14,817.80/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £48,000 vs £73,000
£48,000
- Gross Pay£48,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£38,079.60
- Take Home (Month)£3,173.30
- Effective Tax Rate20.7%
£73,000
- Gross Pay£73,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£52,897.40
- Take Home (Month)£4,408.12
- Effective Tax Rate27.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £14,818 per year, which works out to £1,234.82 per month.