Updated for 2025/26
£15,090 vs £42,951 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,090 salary against £42,951. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£27,861
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,671.66
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£100,300
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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £15,090 | £42,951 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,090 | £42,951 | £27,861 |
| Income Tax | £504 | £6,076 | £5,572 |
| National Insurance | £202 | £2,430 | £2,229 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,384 | £34,444 | £20,060 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,199 | £2,870 | £1,672 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 4.7% | 19.8% | 15.1% |
£15,090
Gross£15,090
Take-Home£14,384
You Keep95.3%
£42,951
Gross£42,951
Take-Home£34,444
You Keep80.2%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,090
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£504.00
National Insurance£201.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,198.70
£42,951
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£6,076.20
National Insurance£2,430.48
Take Home (Monthly)£2,870.36
What £1,671.66 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
£20,059.92/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,090 vs £42,951
£15,090
- Gross Pay£15,090.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,384.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,198.70
- Effective Tax Rate4.7%
£42,951
- Gross Pay£42,951.00
- Take Home (Year)£34,444.32
- Take Home (Month)£2,870.36
- Effective Tax Rate19.8%
The difference in take-home pay is £20,060 per year, which works out to £1,671.66 per month.