Updated for 2025/26
£48,331 vs £52,381 Salary Comparison
Compare a £48,331 salary against £52,381. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,050
per year
Take Home Extra
+£218.37
per month
You Keep
65%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£13,102
cumulative
Higher Rate Tax Threshold
One or both salaries cross the higher rate threshold (£50,271.00). Above this, you pay 40% tax on additional earnings, so the actual take-home difference is smaller than it appears.
- Pension contributions above £50,271 save 40% tax - very valuable
- Consider salary sacrifice schemes for electric cars or cycle-to-work
- Above £60k, child benefit starts being clawed back (if applicable)
- Equity or bonus structures may be more tax-efficient than base salary
Compare Salaries
Enter multiple salaries to compare take-home pay for 2025/26
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £48,331 | £52,381 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £48,331 | £52,381 | £4,050 |
| Income Tax | £7,152 | £8,384 | £1,232 |
| National Insurance | £2,861 | £3,058 | £197 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £38,318 | £40,938 | £2,620 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £3,193 | £3,412 | £218 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 20.7% | 21.8% | 1.1% |
£48,331
Gross£48,331
Take-Home£38,318
You Keep79.3%
£52,381
Gross£52,381
Take-Home£40,938
You Keep78.2%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£48,331
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£7,152.20
National Insurance£2,860.88
Take Home (Monthly)£3,193.16
£52,381
Tax BandHigher Rate
Marginal Rate40%
Income Tax£8,384.40
National Insurance£3,058.22
Take Home (Monthly)£3,411.53
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 £218.37 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: £48,331 vs £52,381
£48,331
- Gross Pay£48,331.00
- Take Home (Year)£38,317.92
- Take Home (Month)£3,193.16
- Effective Tax Rate20.7%
£52,381
- Gross Pay£52,381.00
- Take Home (Year)£40,938.38
- Take Home (Month)£3,411.53
- Effective Tax Rate21.8%
The difference in take-home pay is £2,620 per year, which works out to £218.37 per month.