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Updated for 2025/26

£26,475 vs £42,675 Salary Comparison

Compare a £26,475 salary against £42,675. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£16,200
per year
Take Home Extra
+£972.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£58,320
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£26,475£42,675Difference
Gross Salary£26,475£42,675£16,200
Income Tax£2,781£6,021£3,240
National Insurance£1,112£2,408£1,296
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£22,582
£34,246
£11,664
Take-Home (Monthly)£1,882£2,854£972
Effective Tax Rate14.7%19.8%5.0%

£26,475

Gross£26,475
Take-Home£22,582
You Keep85.3%

£42,675

Gross£42,675
Take-Home£34,246
You Keep80.2%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£26,475

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,781.00
National Insurance£1,112.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,881.80

£42,675

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£6,021.00
National Insurance£2,408.40
Take Home (Monthly)£2,853.80

What £972.00 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
£11,664.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease

Full Comparison: £26,475 vs £42,675

£26,475

  • Gross Pay£26,475.00
  • Take Home (Year)£22,581.60
  • Take Home (Month)£1,881.80
  • Effective Tax Rate14.7%

£42,675

  • Gross Pay£42,675.00
  • Take Home (Year)£34,245.60
  • Take Home (Month)£2,853.80
  • Effective Tax Rate19.8%

The difference in take-home pay is £11,664 per year, which works out to £972.00 per month.