Updated for 2025/26
£38,030 vs £42,080 Salary Comparison
Compare a £38,030 salary against £42,080. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,050
per year
Take Home Extra
+£243.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£14,580
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 | £38,030 | £42,080 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £38,030 | £42,080 | £4,050 |
| Income Tax | £5,092 | £5,902 | £810 |
| National Insurance | £2,037 | £2,361 | £324 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £30,901 | £33,817 | £2,916 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £2,575 | £2,818 | £243 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 18.7% | 19.6% | 0.9% |
£38,030
Gross£38,030
Take-Home£30,901
You Keep81.3%
£42,080
Gross£42,080
Take-Home£33,817
You Keep80.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£38,030
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,092.00
National Insurance£2,036.80
Take Home (Monthly)£2,575.10
£42,080
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,902.00
National Insurance£2,360.80
Take Home (Monthly)£2,818.10
What £243.00 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: £38,030 vs £42,080
£38,030
- Gross Pay£38,030.00
- Take Home (Year)£30,901.20
- Take Home (Month)£2,575.10
- Effective Tax Rate18.7%
£42,080
- Gross Pay£42,080.00
- Take Home (Year)£33,817.20
- Take Home (Month)£2,818.10
- Effective Tax Rate19.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £2,916 per year, which works out to £243.00 per month.