Updated for 2025/26
£21,000 vs £46,000 Salary Comparison
Compare a £21,000 salary against £46,000. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£25,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,500.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£90,000
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 | £21,000 | £46,000 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £21,000 | £46,000 | £25,000 |
| Income Tax | £1,686 | £6,686 | £5,000 |
| National Insurance | £674 | £2,674 | £2,000 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £18,640 | £36,640 | £18,000 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,553 | £3,053 | £1,500 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.2% | 20.3% | 9.1% |
£21,000
Gross£21,000
Take-Home£18,640
You Keep88.8%
£46,000
Gross£46,000
Take-Home£36,640
You Keep79.7%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£21,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,686.00
National Insurance£674.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,553.30
£46,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£6,686.00
National Insurance£2,674.40
Take Home (Monthly)£3,053.30
What £1,500.00 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
£18,000.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £21,000 vs £46,000
£21,000
- Gross Pay£21,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,639.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,553.30
- Effective Tax Rate11.2%
£46,000
- Gross Pay£46,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£36,639.60
- Take Home (Month)£3,053.30
- Effective Tax Rate20.3%
The difference in take-home pay is £18,000 per year, which works out to £1,500.00 per month.