Updated for 2025/26
£15,840 vs £42,240 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,840 salary against £42,240. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£26,400
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,584.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£95,040
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 | £15,840 | £42,240 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,840 | £42,240 | £26,400 |
| Income Tax | £654 | £5,934 | £5,280 |
| National Insurance | £262 | £2,374 | £2,112 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,924 | £33,932 | £19,008 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,244 | £2,828 | £1,584 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.8% | 19.7% | 13.9% |
£15,840
Gross£15,840
Take-Home£14,924
You Keep94.2%
£42,240
Gross£42,240
Take-Home£33,932
You Keep80.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,840
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£654.00
National Insurance£261.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,243.70
£42,240
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,934.00
National Insurance£2,373.60
Take Home (Monthly)£2,827.70
What £1,584.00 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
Savings Boost
£19,008.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,840 vs £42,240
£15,840
- Gross Pay£15,840.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,924.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,243.70
- Effective Tax Rate5.8%
£42,240
- Gross Pay£42,240.00
- Take Home (Year)£33,932.40
- Take Home (Month)£2,827.70
- Effective Tax Rate19.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £19,008 per year, which works out to £1,584.00 per month.