Updated for 2025/26
£12,304 vs £16,804 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,304 salary against £16,804. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£276.21
per month
You Keep
74%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£16,572
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 | £12,304 | £16,804 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,304 | £16,804 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £847 | £847 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £339 | £339 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,304 | £15,618 | £3,314 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,025 | £1,302 | £276 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 7.1% | 7.1% |
£12,304
Gross£12,304
Take-Home£12,304
You Keep100.0%
£16,804
Gross£16,804
Take-Home£15,618
You Keep92.9%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£12,304
Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,025.33
£16,804
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£846.80
National Insurance£338.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,301.54
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 £276.21 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: £12,304 vs £16,804
£12,304
- Gross Pay£12,304.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,304.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,025.33
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£16,804
- Gross Pay£16,804.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,618.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,301.54
- Effective Tax Rate7.1%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,314 per year, which works out to £276.21 per month.