Updated for 2025/26
£48,690 vs £72,690 Salary Comparison
Compare a £48,690 salary against £72,690. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£24,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,178.43
per month
You Keep
59%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£70,706
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 | £48,690 | £72,690 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £48,690 | £72,690 | £24,000 |
| Income Tax | £7,224 | £16,508 | £9,284 |
| National Insurance | £2,890 | £3,464 | £575 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £38,576 | £52,718 | £14,141 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £3,215 | £4,393 | £1,178 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 20.8% | 27.5% | 6.7% |
£48,690
Gross£48,690
Take-Home£38,576
You Keep79.2%
£72,690
Gross£72,690
Take-Home£52,718
You Keep72.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£48,690
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£7,224.00
National Insurance£2,889.60
Take Home (Monthly)£3,214.70
£72,690
Tax BandHigher Rate
Marginal Rate40%
Income Tax£16,508.00
National Insurance£3,464.40
Take Home (Monthly)£4,393.13
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 £1,178.43 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
£14,141.20/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £48,690 vs £72,690
£48,690
- Gross Pay£48,690.00
- Take Home (Year)£38,576.40
- Take Home (Month)£3,214.70
- Effective Tax Rate20.8%
£72,690
- Gross Pay£72,690.00
- Take Home (Year)£52,717.60
- Take Home (Month)£4,393.13
- Effective Tax Rate27.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £14,141 per year, which works out to £1,178.43 per month.