Updated for 2025/26
£37,742 vs £42,742 Salary Comparison
Compare a £37,742 salary against £42,742. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£300.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£18,000
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
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £37,742 | £42,742 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £37,742 | £42,742 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £5,034 | £6,034 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £2,014 | £2,414 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £30,694 | £34,294 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £2,558 | £2,858 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 18.7% | 19.8% | 1.1% |
£37,742
Gross£37,742
Take-Home£30,694
You Keep81.3%
£42,742
Gross£42,742
Take-Home£34,294
You Keep80.2%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£37,742
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,034.40
National Insurance£2,013.76
Take Home (Monthly)£2,557.82
£42,742
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£6,034.40
National Insurance£2,413.76
Take Home (Monthly)£2,857.82
What £300.00 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
Full Comparison: £37,742 vs £42,742
£37,742
- Gross Pay£37,742.00
- Take Home (Year)£30,693.84
- Take Home (Month)£2,557.82
- Effective Tax Rate18.7%
£42,742
- Gross Pay£42,742.00
- Take Home (Year)£34,293.84
- Take Home (Month)£2,857.82
- Effective Tax Rate19.8%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.