Updated for 2025/26
£38,138 vs £42,188 Salary Comparison
Compare a £38,138 salary against £42,188. 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 | £38,138 | £42,188 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £38,138 | £42,188 | £4,050 |
| Income Tax | £5,114 | £5,924 | £810 |
| National Insurance | £2,045 | £2,369 | £324 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £30,979 | £33,895 | £2,916 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £2,582 | £2,825 | £243 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 18.8% | 19.7% | 0.9% |
£38,138
Gross£38,138
Take-Home£30,979
You Keep81.2%
£42,188
Gross£42,188
Take-Home£33,895
You Keep80.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£38,138
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,113.60
National Insurance£2,045.44
Take Home (Monthly)£2,581.58
£42,188
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,923.60
National Insurance£2,369.44
Take Home (Monthly)£2,824.58
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: £38,138 vs £42,188
£38,138
- Gross Pay£38,138.00
- Take Home (Year)£30,978.96
- Take Home (Month)£2,581.58
- Effective Tax Rate18.8%
£42,188
- Gross Pay£42,188.00
- Take Home (Year)£33,894.96
- Take Home (Month)£2,824.58
- Effective Tax Rate19.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £2,916 per year, which works out to £243.00 per month.