Updated for 2025/26
£11,490 vs £15,990 Salary Comparison
Compare a £11,490 salary against £15,990. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£295.20
per month
You Keep
79%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£17,712
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
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £11,490 | £15,990 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £11,490 | £15,990 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £684 | £684 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £274 | £274 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £11,490 | £15,032 | £3,542 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £958 | £1,253 | £295 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% |
£11,490
Gross£11,490
Take-Home£11,490
You Keep100.0%
£15,990
Gross£15,990
Take-Home£15,032
You Keep94.0%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£11,490
Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£957.50
£15,990
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£684.00
National Insurance£273.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,252.70
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 £295.20 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: £11,490 vs £15,990
£11,490
- Gross Pay£11,490.00
- Take Home (Year)£11,490.00
- Take Home (Month)£957.50
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£15,990
- Gross Pay£15,990.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,032.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,252.70
- Effective Tax Rate6.0%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,542 per year, which works out to £295.20 per month.