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Updated for 2025/26

£38,362 vs £43,362 Salary Comparison

Compare a £38,362 salary against £43,362. 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

£
£

Comparison Results

Metric£38,362£43,362Difference
Gross Salary£38,362£43,362£5,000
Income Tax£5,158£6,158£1,000
National Insurance£2,063£2,463£400
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£31,140
£34,740
£3,600
Take-Home (Monthly)£2,595£2,895£300
Effective Tax Rate18.8%19.9%1.1%

£38,362

Gross£38,362
Take-Home£31,140
You Keep81.2%

£43,362

Gross£43,362
Take-Home£34,740
You Keep80.1%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£38,362

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,158.40
National Insurance£2,063.36
Take Home (Monthly)£2,595.02

£43,362

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£6,158.40
National Insurance£2,463.36
Take Home (Monthly)£2,895.02

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: £38,362 vs £43,362

£38,362

  • Gross Pay£38,362.00
  • Take Home (Year)£31,140.24
  • Take Home (Month)£2,595.02
  • Effective Tax Rate18.8%

£43,362

  • Gross Pay£43,362.00
  • Take Home (Year)£34,740.24
  • Take Home (Month)£2,895.02
  • Effective Tax Rate19.9%

The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.