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Updated for 2025/26

£33,008 vs £42,008 Salary Comparison

Compare a £33,008 salary against £42,008. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£9,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£540.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£32,400
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£33,008£42,008Difference
Gross Salary£33,008£42,008£9,000
Income Tax£4,088£5,888£1,800
National Insurance£1,635£2,355£720
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£27,285
£33,765
£6,480
Take-Home (Monthly)£2,274£2,814£540
Effective Tax Rate17.3%19.6%2.3%

£33,008

Gross£33,008
Take-Home£27,285
You Keep82.7%

£42,008

Gross£42,008
Take-Home£33,765
You Keep80.4%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£33,008

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£4,087.60
National Insurance£1,635.04
Take Home (Monthly)£2,273.78

£42,008

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,887.60
National Insurance£2,355.04
Take Home (Monthly)£2,813.78

What £540.00 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
£6,480.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease

Full Comparison: £33,008 vs £42,008

£33,008

  • Gross Pay£33,008.00
  • Take Home (Year)£27,285.36
  • Take Home (Month)£2,273.78
  • Effective Tax Rate17.3%

£42,008

  • Gross Pay£42,008.00
  • Take Home (Year)£33,765.36
  • Take Home (Month)£2,813.78
  • Effective Tax Rate19.6%

The difference in take-home pay is £6,480 per year, which works out to £540.00 per month.