Updated for 2025/26
£32,426 vs £42,426 Salary Comparison
Compare a £32,426 salary against £42,426. 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 | £32,426 | £42,426 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £32,426 | £42,426 | £10,000 |
| Income Tax | £3,971 | £5,971 | £2,000 |
| National Insurance | £1,588 | £2,388 | £800 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £26,866 | £34,066 | £7,200 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £2,239 | £2,839 | £600 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 17.1% | 19.7% | 2.6% |
£32,426
Gross£32,426
Take-Home£26,866
You Keep82.9%
£42,426
Gross£42,426
Take-Home£34,066
You Keep80.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£32,426
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,971.20
National Insurance£1,588.48
Take Home (Monthly)£2,238.86
£42,426
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,971.20
National Insurance£2,388.48
Take Home (Monthly)£2,838.86
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: £32,426 vs £42,426
£32,426
- Gross Pay£32,426.00
- Take Home (Year)£26,866.32
- Take Home (Month)£2,238.86
- Effective Tax Rate17.1%
£42,426
- Gross Pay£42,426.00
- Take Home (Year)£34,066.32
- Take Home (Month)£2,838.86
- Effective Tax Rate19.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,200 per year, which works out to £600.00 per month.