Updated for 2025/26
£38,370 vs £42,420 Salary Comparison
Compare a £38,370 salary against £42,420. 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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £38,370 | £42,420 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £38,370 | £42,420 | £4,050 |
| Income Tax | £5,160 | £5,970 | £810 |
| National Insurance | £2,064 | £2,388 | £324 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £31,146 | £34,062 | £2,916 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £2,596 | £2,839 | £243 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 18.8% | 19.7% | 0.9% |
£38,370
Gross£38,370
Take-Home£31,146
You Keep81.2%
£42,420
Gross£42,420
Take-Home£34,062
You Keep80.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£38,370
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,160.00
National Insurance£2,064.00
Take Home (Monthly)£2,595.50
£42,420
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,970.00
National Insurance£2,388.00
Take Home (Monthly)£2,838.50
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: £38,370 vs £42,420
£38,370
- Gross Pay£38,370.00
- Take Home (Year)£31,146.00
- Take Home (Month)£2,595.50
- Effective Tax Rate18.8%
£42,420
- Gross Pay£42,420.00
- Take Home (Year)£34,062.00
- Take Home (Month)£2,838.50
- Effective Tax Rate19.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £2,916 per year, which works out to £243.00 per month.