Salary comparison calculator
Put two salaries side by side and compare what actually reaches your account. The headline gap and the take-home gap are rarely the same.
Side by side
| Salary A | Salary B | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross | £35,000 | £42,000 |
| Income tax | £4,486 | £5,886 |
| National Insurance | £1,794 | £2,354 |
| Take-home / month | £2,393 | £2,813 |
| Take-home / year | £28,720 | £33,760 |
Why the take-home gap is smaller
The difference between two salaries is taxed at the marginal rate of the higher one. If the extra pay sits in the basic band it loses 20% tax and 8% National Insurance. If it crosses £50,270 the slice above loses 40% and 2%. So the gap in take-home pay is always narrower than the gap on the contract.
Worked example
Salary A of £35,000 and Salary B of £42,000 differ by £7,000 on paper. After tax and National Insurance, the take-home difference is about £5,040 a year, or £420 a month. The higher offer is still better, but the real gain is smaller than the headline suggests, which is worth remembering when weighing a longer commute or fewer benefits.
Common questions
How do I compare two job offers?
Compare the take-home, not the gross. A higher salary can be taxed more heavily on the extra, so the gap in take-home pay is smaller than the gap on paper. This tool shows both figures for each salary and the difference that reaches your account.
Is the difference in take-home smaller than the salary difference?
Usually yes. Here a £7,000 gap in gross salary becomes about £5,040 in take-home, because the higher salary pays more tax and National Insurance on the extra pay.
Does a higher salary ever leave me worse off?
On salary alone, no: you always keep something from a rise. The take-home simply grows more slowly once you cross £50,270 or the £100,000 allowance taper. Other factors such as childcare support or student loan repayments can change the wider picture, but they are outside this comparison.
What is not included?
Pension contributions, student loan repayments, benefits, bonuses and pension or private health cover. Two offers with the same salary can differ a lot once those are counted, so weigh the whole package alongside the take-home shown here.