Salary Comparison Calculator UK

To fairly compare two salaries, look beyond the gross figures — compare estimated take-home pay after Income Tax and National Insurance, since tax bands mean a higher gross salary doesn't always translate to a proportionally higher net salary. Use the calculator above to see the full comparison.

As your salary increases, more of the additional income is taxed at higher rates (40% above £50,270, or an effective 60% between £100,000 and £125,140). This means the gap in take-home pay is often proportionally smaller than the gap in gross salary.

Yes, if either role offers different pension contribution rates. Employer pension contributions are a valuable part of total compensation, and different salary sacrifice arrangements can affect your net take-home pay differently even at the same gross salary.

Yes, indirectly. A higher salary in London may not go as far due to higher living costs, while a lower salary in a different region could provide better real purchasing power. This calculator compares tax and NI only, not cost of living.

Only the portion of income above the threshold is taxed at the higher rate — not your whole salary. For example, moving from £45,000 to £55,000 only taxes the £4,730 above the £50,270 threshold at 40%, not the full salary.

This calculator focuses on gross salary, tax, NI and pension differences. For a detailed comparison including student loan repayments, use our dedicated Student Loan Calculator alongside this tool.