Updated for 2025/26
£12,004 vs £17,004 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,004 salary against £17,004. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£313.21
per month
You Keep
75%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£18,792
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 | £12,004 | £17,004 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,004 | £17,004 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £887 | £887 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £355 | £355 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,004 | £15,762 | £3,758 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,000 | £1,314 | £313 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 7.3% | 7.3% |
£12,004
Gross£12,004
Take-Home£12,004
You Keep100.0%
£17,004
Gross£17,004
Take-Home£15,762
You Keep92.7%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£12,004
Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,000.33
£17,004
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£886.80
National Insurance£354.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,313.54
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 £313.21 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: £12,004 vs £17,004
£12,004
- Gross Pay£12,004.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,004.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,000.33
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£17,004
- Gross Pay£17,004.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,762.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,313.54
- Effective Tax Rate7.3%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,758 per year, which works out to £313.21 per month.