Updated for 2025/26
£12,004 vs £20,064 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,004 salary against £20,064. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£8,060
per year
Take Home Extra
+£496.81
per month
You Keep
74%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£29,808
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 | £20,064 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,004 | £20,064 | £8,060 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £1,499 | £1,499 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £600 | £600 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,004 | £17,966 | £5,962 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,000 | £1,497 | £497 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 10.5% | 10.5% |
£12,004
Gross£12,004
Take-Home£12,004
You Keep100.0%
£20,064
Gross£20,064
Take-Home£17,966
You Keep89.5%
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
£20,064
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,498.80
National Insurance£599.52
Take Home (Monthly)£1,497.14
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 £496.81 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
£5,961.68/year extra into savings or investments
Full Comparison: £12,004 vs £20,064
£12,004
- Gross Pay£12,004.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,004.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,000.33
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£20,064
- Gross Pay£20,064.00
- Take Home (Year)£17,965.68
- Take Home (Month)£1,497.14
- Effective Tax Rate10.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £5,962 per year, which works out to £496.81 per month.