Updated for 2025/26
£15,972 vs £42,472 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,972 salary against £42,472. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£26,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,590.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£95,400
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 | £15,972 | £42,472 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,972 | £42,472 | £26,500 |
| Income Tax | £680 | £5,980 | £5,300 |
| National Insurance | £272 | £2,392 | £2,120 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,019 | £34,099 | £19,080 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,252 | £2,842 | £1,590 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.0% | 19.7% | 13.7% |
£15,972
Gross£15,972
Take-Home£15,019
You Keep94.0%
£42,472
Gross£42,472
Take-Home£34,099
You Keep80.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,972
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£680.40
National Insurance£272.16
Take Home (Monthly)£1,251.62
£42,472
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,980.40
National Insurance£2,392.16
Take Home (Monthly)£2,841.62
What £1,590.00 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
£19,080.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,972 vs £42,472
£15,972
- Gross Pay£15,972.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,019.44
- Take Home (Month)£1,251.62
- Effective Tax Rate6.0%
£42,472
- Gross Pay£42,472.00
- Take Home (Year)£34,099.44
- Take Home (Month)£2,841.62
- Effective Tax Rate19.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £19,080 per year, which works out to £1,590.00 per month.