Updated for 2025/26
£12,502 vs £17,002 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,502 salary against £17,002. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£271.59
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£16,295
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 | £12,502 | £17,002 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,502 | £17,002 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £886 | £886 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £355 | £355 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,502 | £15,761 | £3,259 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,042 | £1,313 | £272 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 7.3% | 7.3% |
£12,502
Gross£12,502
Take-Home£12,502
You Keep100.0%
£17,002
Gross£17,002
Take-Home£15,761
You Keep92.7%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£12,502
Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,041.83
£17,002
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£886.40
National Insurance£354.56
Take Home (Monthly)£1,313.42
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 £271.59 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: £12,502 vs £17,002
£12,502
- Gross Pay£12,502.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,502.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,041.83
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£17,002
- Gross Pay£17,002.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,761.04
- Take Home (Month)£1,313.42
- Effective Tax Rate7.3%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,259 per year, which works out to £271.59 per month.