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Updated for 2025/26

£42,464 vs £52,464 Salary Comparison

Compare a £42,464 salary against £52,464. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£10,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£574.40
per month
You Keep
69%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£34,464
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£42,464£52,464Difference
Gross Salary£42,464£52,464£10,000
Income Tax£5,979£8,418£2,439
National Insurance£2,392£3,060£668
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£34,094
£40,987
£6,893
Take-Home (Monthly)£2,841£3,416£574
Effective Tax Rate19.7%21.9%2.2%

£42,464

Gross£42,464
Take-Home£34,094
You Keep80.3%

£52,464

Gross£52,464
Take-Home£40,987
You Keep78.1%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£42,464

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£5,978.80
National Insurance£2,391.52
Take Home (Monthly)£2,841.14

£52,464

Tax BandHigher Rate
Marginal Rate40%
Income Tax£8,417.60
National Insurance£3,059.88
Take Home (Monthly)£3,415.54

Tax Band Change: This salary increase crosses from the Basic Rate (20%) into the Higher Rate (40%). The portion above £50,270.00 will be taxed at the higher rate.

What £574.40 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
Savings Boost
£6,892.84/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease

Full Comparison: £42,464 vs £52,464

£42,464

  • Gross Pay£42,464.00
  • Take Home (Year)£34,093.68
  • Take Home (Month)£2,841.14
  • Effective Tax Rate19.7%

£52,464

  • Gross Pay£52,464.00
  • Take Home (Year)£40,986.52
  • Take Home (Month)£3,415.54
  • Effective Tax Rate21.9%

The difference in take-home pay is £6,893 per year, which works out to £574.40 per month.