Updated for 2025/26
£15,216 vs £21,206 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,216 salary against £21,206. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,990
per year
Take Home Extra
+£359.40
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£21,564
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 | £15,216 | £21,206 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,216 | £21,206 | £5,990 |
| Income Tax | £529 | £1,727 | £1,198 |
| National Insurance | £212 | £691 | £479 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,475 | £18,788 | £4,313 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,206 | £1,566 | £359 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 4.9% | 11.4% | 6.5% |
£15,216
Gross£15,216
Take-Home£14,475
You Keep95.1%
£21,206
Gross£21,206
Take-Home£18,788
You Keep88.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,216
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£529.20
National Insurance£211.68
Take Home (Monthly)£1,206.26
£21,206
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,727.20
National Insurance£690.88
Take Home (Monthly)£1,565.66
What £359.40 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: £15,216 vs £21,206
£15,216
- Gross Pay£15,216.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,475.12
- Take Home (Month)£1,206.26
- Effective Tax Rate4.9%
£21,206
- Gross Pay£21,206.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,787.92
- Take Home (Month)£1,565.66
- Effective Tax Rate11.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £4,313 per year, which works out to £359.40 per month.