Updated for 2025/26
£15,005 vs £42,150 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,005 salary against £42,150. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£27,145
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,628.70
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£97,722
cumulative
Entry-Level Career Progression
This comparison is typical for early career moves or first promotions. At this salary range, most of your income is taxed at the basic rate (20%), so you keep a higher percentage of any raise.
- Negotiate hard - you keep ~70-80% of any increase at this level
- Consider employers offering good pension matching (often worth more than small salary differences)
- Look for roles with clear progression paths to higher bands
- Factor in benefits like free lunches, gym memberships, or transport subsidies
Compare Salaries
Enter multiple salaries to compare take-home pay for 2025/26
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £15,005 | £42,150 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,005 | £42,150 | £27,145 |
| Income Tax | £487 | £5,916 | £5,429 |
| National Insurance | £195 | £2,366 | £2,172 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,323 | £33,868 | £19,544 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,194 | £2,822 | £1,629 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 4.5% | 19.6% | 15.1% |
£15,005
Gross£15,005
Take-Home£14,323
You Keep95.5%
£42,150
Gross£42,150
Take-Home£33,868
You Keep80.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,005
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£487.00
National Insurance£194.80
Take Home (Monthly)£1,193.60
£42,150
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,916.00
National Insurance£2,366.40
Take Home (Monthly)£2,822.30
What £1,628.70 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
£19,544.40/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,005 vs £42,150
£15,005
- Gross Pay£15,005.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,323.20
- Take Home (Month)£1,193.60
- Effective Tax Rate4.5%
£42,150
- Gross Pay£42,150.00
- Take Home (Year)£33,867.60
- Take Home (Month)£2,822.30
- Effective Tax Rate19.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £19,544 per year, which works out to £1,628.70 per month.