Skip to main content

Search Calculators

Search for a calculator to use

Updated for 2025/26

£48,418 vs £68,418 Salary Comparison

Compare a £48,418 salary against £68,418. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£20,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£988.27
per month
You Keep
59%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£59,296
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

£
£

Comparison Results

Metric£48,418£68,418Difference
Gross Salary£48,418£68,418£20,000
Income Tax£7,170£14,799£7,630
National Insurance£2,868£3,379£511
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£38,381
£50,240
£11,859
Take-Home (Monthly)£3,198£4,187£988
Effective Tax Rate20.7%26.6%5.8%

£48,418

Gross£48,418
Take-Home£38,381
You Keep79.3%

£68,418

Gross£68,418
Take-Home£50,240
You Keep73.4%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£48,418

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£7,169.60
National Insurance£2,867.84
Take Home (Monthly)£3,198.38

£68,418

Tax BandHigher Rate
Marginal Rate40%
Income Tax£14,799.20
National Insurance£3,378.96
Take Home (Monthly)£4,186.65

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 £988.27 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
£11,859.28/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease

Full Comparison: £48,418 vs £68,418

£48,418

  • Gross Pay£48,418.00
  • Take Home (Year)£38,380.56
  • Take Home (Month)£3,198.38
  • Effective Tax Rate20.7%

£68,418

  • Gross Pay£68,418.00
  • Take Home (Year)£50,239.84
  • Take Home (Month)£4,186.65
  • Effective Tax Rate26.6%

The difference in take-home pay is £11,859 per year, which works out to £988.27 per month.