Updated for 2025/26
£42,602 vs £47,602 Salary Comparison
Compare a £42,602 salary against £47,602. 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 | £42,602 | £47,602 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £42,602 | £47,602 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £6,006 | £7,006 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £2,403 | £2,803 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £34,193 | £37,793 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £2,849 | £3,149 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 19.7% | 20.6% | 0.9% |
£42,602
Gross£42,602
Take-Home£34,193
You Keep80.3%
£47,602
Gross£47,602
Take-Home£37,793
You Keep79.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£42,602
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£6,006.40
National Insurance£2,402.56
Take Home (Monthly)£2,849.42
£47,602
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£7,006.40
National Insurance£2,802.56
Take Home (Monthly)£3,149.42
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: £42,602 vs £47,602
£42,602
- Gross Pay£42,602.00
- Take Home (Year)£34,193.04
- Take Home (Month)£2,849.42
- Effective Tax Rate19.7%
£47,602
- Gross Pay£47,602.00
- Take Home (Year)£37,793.04
- Take Home (Month)£3,149.42
- Effective Tax Rate20.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.