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Updated for 2025/26

£11,988 vs £29,138 Salary Comparison

Compare a £11,988 salary against £29,138. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£17,150
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,042.58
per month
You Keep
73%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£62,555
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£11,988£29,138Difference
Gross Salary£11,988£29,138£17,150
Income Tax£0£3,314£3,314
National Insurance£0£1,325£1,325
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£11,988
£24,499
£12,511
Take-Home (Monthly)£999£2,042£1,043
Effective Tax Rate0.0%15.9%15.9%

£11,988

Gross£11,988
Take-Home£11,988
You Keep100.0%

£29,138

Gross£29,138
Take-Home£24,499
You Keep84.1%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£11,988

Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£999.00

£29,138

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,313.60
National Insurance£1,325.44
Take Home (Monthly)£2,041.58

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 £1,042.58 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
Savings Boost
£12,510.96/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease

Full Comparison: £11,988 vs £29,138

£11,988

  • Gross Pay£11,988.00
  • Take Home (Year)£11,988.00
  • Take Home (Month)£999.00
  • Effective Tax Rate0.0%

£29,138

  • Gross Pay£29,138.00
  • Take Home (Year)£24,498.96
  • Take Home (Month)£2,041.58
  • Effective Tax Rate15.9%

The difference in take-home pay is £12,511 per year, which works out to £1,042.58 per month.