Updated for 2025/26
£40,988 vs £45,988 Salary Comparison
Compare a £40,988 salary against £45,988. 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 | £40,988 | £45,988 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £40,988 | £45,988 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £5,684 | £6,684 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £2,273 | £2,673 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £33,031 | £36,631 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £2,753 | £3,053 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 19.4% | 20.3% | 0.9% |
£40,988
Gross£40,988
Take-Home£33,031
You Keep80.6%
£45,988
Gross£45,988
Take-Home£36,631
You Keep79.7%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£40,988
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,683.60
National Insurance£2,273.44
Take Home (Monthly)£2,752.58
£45,988
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£6,683.60
National Insurance£2,673.44
Take Home (Monthly)£3,052.58
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: £40,988 vs £45,988
£40,988
- Gross Pay£40,988.00
- Take Home (Year)£33,030.96
- Take Home (Month)£2,752.58
- Effective Tax Rate19.4%
£45,988
- Gross Pay£45,988.00
- Take Home (Year)£36,630.96
- Take Home (Month)£3,052.58
- Effective Tax Rate20.3%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.