Updated for 2025/26
£11,488 vs £16,988 Salary Comparison
Compare a £11,488 salary against £16,988. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£355.25
per month
You Keep
78%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£21,315
cumulative
Entry-Level Career Progression
This comparison is typical for early career moves or first promotions. At this salary range, most of your income is taxed at the basic rate (20%), so you keep a higher percentage of any raise.
- Negotiate hard - you keep ~70-80% of any increase at this level
- Consider employers offering good pension matching (often worth more than small salary differences)
- Look for roles with clear progression paths to higher bands
- Factor in benefits like free lunches, gym memberships, or transport subsidies
Compare Salaries
Enter multiple salaries to compare take-home pay for 2025/26
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £11,488 | £16,988 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £11,488 | £16,988 | £5,500 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £884 | £884 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £353 | £353 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £11,488 | £15,751 | £4,263 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £957 | £1,313 | £355 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 7.3% | 7.3% |
£11,488
Gross£11,488
Take-Home£11,488
You Keep100.0%
£16,988
Gross£16,988
Take-Home£15,751
You Keep92.7%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£11,488
Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£957.33
£16,988
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£883.60
National Insurance£353.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,312.58
Tax Band Change: This salary increase crosses from the Personal Allowance (0%) into the Basic Rate (20%). The portion above £12,570.00 will be taxed at the higher rate.
What £355.25 Extra Buys You
Real-world value of the take-home difference
Monthly Subscriptions
Netflix, Spotify, gym - £100.00/mo
Weekend Breaks
1-2 UK getaways per month at this budget
Full Comparison: £11,488 vs £16,988
£11,488
- Gross Pay£11,488.00
- Take Home (Year)£11,488.00
- Take Home (Month)£957.33
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£16,988
- Gross Pay£16,988.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,750.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,312.58
- Effective Tax Rate7.3%
The difference in take-home pay is £4,263 per year, which works out to £355.25 per month.