Updated for 2025/26
£30,000 vs £40,000 Salary Comparison
Compare a £30,000 salary against £40,000. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£10,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£600.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£36,000
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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £30,000 | £40,000 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £30,000 | £40,000 | £10,000 |
| Income Tax | £3,486 | £5,486 | £2,000 |
| National Insurance | £1,394 | £2,194 | £800 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £25,120 | £32,320 | £7,200 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £2,093 | £2,693 | £600 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 16.3% | 19.2% | 2.9% |
£30,000
Gross£30,000
Take-Home£25,120
You Keep83.7%
£40,000
Gross£40,000
Take-Home£32,320
You Keep80.8%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£30,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,486.00
National Insurance£1,394.40
Take Home (Monthly)£2,093.30
£40,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,486.00
National Insurance£2,194.40
Take Home (Monthly)£2,693.30
What £600.00 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
£7,200.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £30,000 vs £40,000
£30,000
- Gross Pay£30,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£25,119.60
- Take Home (Month)£2,093.30
- Effective Tax Rate16.3%
£40,000
- Gross Pay£40,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£32,319.60
- Take Home (Month)£2,693.30
- Effective Tax Rate19.2%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,200 per year, which works out to £600.00 per month.