Personal Finance
Take-home Pay Comparison Calculator
Enter two salaries and the percentage you actually keep — this is not a UK tax engine.
Compare two take-home figures
Two jobs with similar headlines can diverge after tax, pension, student loan and commute. This calculator compares simplified take-home figures so you can line up offers more clearly. It is not an HMRC engine — banded tax means real payslips can differ. Confirm with official calculators before you resign. Related: commute cost, pay rise and reverse salary. Effective hours matter via effective hourly wage. Salary sacrifice schemes reduce taxable pay — enter figures as your offer states them. Not tax advice. Remote roles with occasional office weeks still need a travel budget line even when the headline salary looks identical to a fully remote peer. Childcare wraparound hours can erase a modest rise; include them when the new role changes the school run. Keep offer letters side by side with your calculator outputs for a clear decision record. Remote roles with occasional office weeks still need a travel budget line even when the headline salary looks identical to a fully remote peer. Childcare wraparound hours can erase a modest rise; include them when the new role changes the school run. Keep offer letters side by side with your calculator outputs for a clear decision record.
Worked example
Offer A: £42,000 with 5% employee pension. Offer B: £40,000 with 3% pension but a shorter commute saving £80/month. Headline pay favours A; after a simplified take-home sketch and commute, B can win on cash in hand and hours. Always re-check with an official calculator using your tax code and student loan plan.
Limits and assumptions
Simplified deductions are not payroll-accurate. Benefits-in-kind, Scottish rates and marriage allowance are outside the sketch. Not a resignation recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
Why might two identical salaries take home differently?
Pension contribution rates, student loan plans and tax codes commonly differ between people and employers.
Should I include bonuses?
For a typical month, maybe not. For annual comparison, add expected bonus after considering tax timing.
How do salary sacrifice schemes affect this?
They reduce taxable pay. Enter the figures your offer states after salary sacrifice if you want a closer sketch.
Do I subtract commute here?
Optionally compare take-home first, then subtract commute with the commute cost tool for a lifestyle view.
What about private medical or other benefits?
Value them separately; they rarely appear in take-home pay but still matter to total reward.