Updated for 2025/26
£15,985 vs £48,050 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,985 salary against £48,050. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£32,065
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,923.90
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£115,434
cumulative
Mid-Career Sweet Spot
This salary range often represents strong mid-career positions. You're still entirely in the basic rate tax band (20%), making raises very tax-efficient.
- Salary sacrifice for pension can be very efficient at this level
- Consider hybrid or remote roles - commuting costs can eat into raises
- This is often the best time to change industries for a salary bump
- Skills training and certifications can lead to significant jumps
Compare Salaries
Enter multiple salaries to compare take-home pay for 2025/26
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £15,985 | £48,050 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,985 | £48,050 | £32,065 |
| Income Tax | £683 | £7,096 | £6,413 |
| National Insurance | £273 | £2,838 | £2,565 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,029 | £38,116 | £23,087 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,252 | £3,176 | £1,924 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.0% | 20.7% | 14.7% |
£15,985
Gross£15,985
Take-Home£15,029
You Keep94.0%
£48,050
Gross£48,050
Take-Home£38,116
You Keep79.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,985
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£683.00
National Insurance£273.20
Take Home (Monthly)£1,252.40
£48,050
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£7,096.00
National Insurance£2,838.40
Take Home (Monthly)£3,176.30
What £1,923.90 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
£23,086.80/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,985 vs £48,050
£15,985
- Gross Pay£15,985.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,028.80
- Take Home (Month)£1,252.40
- Effective Tax Rate6.0%
£48,050
- Gross Pay£48,050.00
- Take Home (Year)£38,115.60
- Take Home (Month)£3,176.30
- Effective Tax Rate20.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £23,087 per year, which works out to £1,923.90 per month.