Updated for 2025/26
£42,342 vs £46,842 Salary Comparison
Compare a £42,342 salary against £46,842. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£270.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£16,200
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 | £42,342 | £46,842 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £42,342 | £46,842 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £5,954 | £6,854 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £2,382 | £2,742 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £34,006 | £37,246 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £2,834 | £3,104 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 19.7% | 20.5% | 0.8% |
£42,342
Gross£42,342
Take-Home£34,006
You Keep80.3%
£46,842
Gross£46,842
Take-Home£37,246
You Keep79.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£42,342
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,954.40
National Insurance£2,381.76
Take Home (Monthly)£2,833.82
£46,842
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£6,854.40
National Insurance£2,741.76
Take Home (Monthly)£3,103.82
What £270.00 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: £42,342 vs £46,842
£42,342
- Gross Pay£42,342.00
- Take Home (Year)£34,005.84
- Take Home (Month)£2,833.82
- Effective Tax Rate19.7%
£46,842
- Gross Pay£46,842.00
- Take Home (Year)£37,245.84
- Take Home (Month)£3,103.82
- Effective Tax Rate20.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.