Updated for 2025/26
£12,321 vs £17,321 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,321 salary against £17,321. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£305.81
per month
You Keep
73%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£18,349
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 | £12,321 | £17,321 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,321 | £17,321 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £950 | £950 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £380 | £380 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,321 | £15,991 | £3,670 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,027 | £1,333 | £306 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 7.7% | 7.7% |
£12,321
Gross£12,321
Take-Home£12,321
You Keep100.0%
£17,321
Gross£17,321
Take-Home£15,991
You Keep92.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£12,321
Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,026.75
£17,321
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£950.20
National Insurance£380.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,332.56
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 £305.81 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
Full Comparison: £12,321 vs £17,321
£12,321
- Gross Pay£12,321.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,321.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,026.75
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£17,321
- Gross Pay£17,321.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,990.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,332.56
- Effective Tax Rate7.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,670 per year, which works out to £305.81 per month.