Salary Comparison UK 2026/27 — Take Home Pay Differences £20k to £500k

A pay rise never lands in your bank account in full. These pages compare two salaries side by side — income tax, National Insurance, monthly and weekly take-home — and show exactly how much of the difference you keep, using 2025/26 rates (thresholds frozen to 2028, so the figures also hold for 2026/27; England, Wales and Northern Ireland — Scottish bands differ).

The pattern is worth knowing before any salary negotiation. A basic-rate earner keeps roughly 72p of every extra £1 (20% tax + 8% NI). Above £50,270 that drops to 58p (40% + 2%). Between £100,000 and £125,140 the personal allowance taper cuts it to about 38p — the notorious £100k tax trap — and above £125,140 it recovers slightly to 53p at the 45% additional rate. Pick the comparison that matches your situation, or read our high-earner tax tips if you’re heading past six figures.

Everyday salaries (£20k–£38k)

£20k vs £25k £25k vs £28k £25k vs £30k £28k vs £32k £30k vs £35k £30k vs £40k £32k vs £35k £35k vs £40k £35k vs £45k £38k vs £42k

Crossing the higher-rate line (£40k–£55k)

£40k vs £45k £40k vs £50k £40k vs £60k £45k vs £50k £45k vs £55k £50k vs £55k £50k vs £60k £55k vs £60k £55k vs £65k

Higher-rate earners (£60k–£90k)

£60k vs £65k £60k vs £70k £65k vs £70k £65k vs £75k £70k vs £80k £75k vs £85k £80k vs £90k £80k vs £100k £90k vs £100k

High earners and the £100k trap (£100k+)

£100k vs £120k £100k vs £150k £100k vs £200k £120k vs £140k £120k vs £150k £130k vs £150k £140k vs £160k £150k vs £180k £150k vs £200k £160k vs £180k £180k vs £200k £200k vs £250k £200k vs £300k £250k vs £300k £250k vs £500k £300k vs £400k

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