Updated for 2025/26
£12,991 vs £21,271 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,991 salary against £21,271. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£8,280
per year
Take Home Extra
+£496.80
per month
You Keep
72%
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 | £12,991 | £21,271 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,991 | £21,271 | £8,280 |
| Income Tax | £84 | £1,740 | £1,656 |
| National Insurance | £34 | £696 | £662 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,873 | £18,835 | £5,962 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,073 | £1,570 | £497 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.9% | 11.5% | 10.5% |
£12,991
Gross£12,991
Take-Home£12,873
You Keep99.1%
£21,271
Gross£21,271
Take-Home£18,835
You Keep88.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£12,991
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£84.20
National Insurance£33.68
Take Home (Monthly)£1,072.76
£21,271
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,740.20
National Insurance£696.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,569.56
What £496.80 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
£5,961.60/year extra into savings or investments
Full Comparison: £12,991 vs £21,271
£12,991
- Gross Pay£12,991.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,873.12
- Take Home (Month)£1,072.76
- Effective Tax Rate0.9%
£21,271
- Gross Pay£21,271.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,834.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,569.56
- Effective Tax Rate11.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £5,962 per year, which works out to £496.80 per month.