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Updated for 2025/26

£48,749 vs £52,029 Salary Comparison

Compare a £48,749 salary against £52,029. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£3,280
per year
Take Home Extra
+£176.28
per month
You Keep
64%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£10,577
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

£
£

Comparison Results

Metric£48,749£52,029Difference
Gross Salary£48,749£52,029£3,280
Income Tax£7,236£8,244£1,008
National Insurance£2,894£3,051£157
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£38,619
£40,734
£2,115
Take-Home (Monthly)£3,218£3,395£176
Effective Tax Rate20.8%21.7%0.9%

£48,749

Gross£48,749
Take-Home£38,619
You Keep79.2%

£52,029

Gross£52,029
Take-Home£40,734
You Keep78.3%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£48,749

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£7,235.80
National Insurance£2,894.32
Take Home (Monthly)£3,218.24

£52,029

Tax BandHigher Rate
Marginal Rate40%
Income Tax£8,243.60
National Insurance£3,051.18
Take Home (Monthly)£3,394.52

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 £176.28 Extra Buys You

Real-world value of the take-home difference

Monthly Subscriptions
Netflix, Spotify, gym - £100.00/mo

Full Comparison: £48,749 vs £52,029

£48,749

  • Gross Pay£48,749.00
  • Take Home (Year)£38,618.88
  • Take Home (Month)£3,218.24
  • Effective Tax Rate20.8%

£52,029

  • Gross Pay£52,029.00
  • Take Home (Year)£40,734.22
  • Take Home (Month)£3,394.52
  • Effective Tax Rate21.7%

The difference in take-home pay is £2,115 per year, which works out to £176.28 per month.