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Updated for 2025/26

£24,729 vs £42,729 Salary Comparison

Compare a £24,729 salary against £42,729. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£18,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,080.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£64,800
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

£
£

Comparison Results

Metric£24,729£42,729Difference
Gross Salary£24,729£42,729£18,000
Income Tax£2,432£6,032£3,600
National Insurance£973£2,413£1,440
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£21,324
£34,284
£12,960
Take-Home (Monthly)£1,777£2,857£1,080
Effective Tax Rate13.8%19.8%6.0%

£24,729

Gross£24,729
Take-Home£21,324
You Keep86.2%

£42,729

Gross£42,729
Take-Home£34,284
You Keep80.2%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£24,729

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,431.80
National Insurance£972.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,777.04

£42,729

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£6,031.80
National Insurance£2,412.72
Take Home (Monthly)£2,857.04

What £1,080.00 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
£12,960.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease

Full Comparison: £24,729 vs £42,729

£24,729

  • Gross Pay£24,729.00
  • Take Home (Year)£21,324.48
  • Take Home (Month)£1,777.04
  • Effective Tax Rate13.8%

£42,729

  • Gross Pay£42,729.00
  • Take Home (Year)£34,284.48
  • Take Home (Month)£2,857.04
  • Effective Tax Rate19.8%

The difference in take-home pay is £12,960 per year, which works out to £1,080.00 per month.