Compare Two Salaries with a Like-for-Like Net Pay View
This salary comparison calculator helps you compare two UK pay packages using the same 2026/27 tax rules. Instead of only looking at headline gross salary, it estimates how much you would actually keep after Income Tax, National Insurance, pension contributions and student loan deductions.
This makes it useful if you are comparing two job offers, thinking about changing employer, checking whether a pay rise is really worth it, or deciding between packages with different pension or benefit setups. A higher gross salary does not always mean a better outcome after deductions.
What this salary comparison calculator includes
The calculator is designed to compare two salary packages on a more realistic basis. Depending on the inputs you use, it can take account of:
- Gross salary for Salary A and Salary B
- Shared or separate tax code settings
- Pension contribution amount or percentage
- Different pension treatments such as salary sacrifice, net pay arrangement and relief at source
- Undergraduate student loan settings
- Postgraduate loan deductions
- Bonus income
- Overtime income
- Salary sacrifice items and childcare sacrifice
- Taxable benefits such as private medical cover
- Other deductions and tax region selection
- Annual, monthly and weekly comparison views
This helps you move beyond a simple gross salary comparison and get closer to what each package may actually leave you with.
Why gross salary is not always enough
Many people compare jobs by looking only at the headline salary. But two salaries with the same gross amount can produce very different take-home pay depending on tax code, pension setup, student loans, taxable benefits and other deductions.
For example, one role may offer a slightly lower salary but stronger pension contributions or fewer deductions, while another may include a bonus that pushes part of your pay into a higher tax band. This is why a net pay comparison is often more useful than just comparing annual salary alone.
How to use the compare two salaries calculator
Enter the details for both salary packages and choose whether some settings should be shared or entered separately. You can then adjust things like tax codes, pension contributions, student loan plans, bonuses, overtime and benefits. Once submitted, the calculator shows the estimated difference between Salary A and Salary B across annual, monthly and weekly views.
This can be especially useful when comparing jobs with different pension structures, different bonus potential, or extra taxable benefits that may reduce the value of a higher salary.
What can make one salary package better than another?
A job package can come out ahead for reasons other than basic salary. The final comparison may be affected by:
- Pension contribution levels and pension treatment
- Student loan deductions
- Postgraduate loan deductions
- Bonus levels and overtime patterns
- Salary sacrifice arrangements
- Taxable benefits
- Other payroll deductions
- Tax region and tax code differences
This is why one offer that looks better on paper may not actually leave you with more money in practice.
Who this tool is useful for
This calculator may be helpful if you are:
- Comparing two job offers
- Checking whether a pay rise improves net income enough to matter
- Comparing pension setups between employers
- Reviewing the impact of bonuses and overtime
- Working out how student loans affect each option
- Comparing a salary sacrifice package against a standard pay setup
- Trying to decide which package leaves you better off overall
Important note
This tool provides an estimate only. Actual payroll results may vary depending on employer payroll systems, exact tax code treatment, pension setup, benefits in kind, rounding, timing of bonus payments and other employer-specific adjustments.
If you are making an important financial decision, always compare the results against official payroll information or professional advice where needed.
Use the salary comparison calculator
If you want to compare two UK salaries on a more realistic after-tax basis, use the calculator above to estimate which option leaves you better off. It is a practical way to compare salary after tax, understand the real effect of deductions, and see how pension, student loans, bonuses, benefits and salary sacrifice can change the outcome.