Updated for 2025/26
£15,251 vs £26,591 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,251 salary against £26,591. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£11,340
per year
Take Home Extra
+£680.40
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£40,824
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 | £15,251 | £26,591 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,251 | £26,591 | £11,340 |
| Income Tax | £536 | £2,804 | £2,268 |
| National Insurance | £214 | £1,122 | £907 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,500 | £22,665 | £8,165 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,208 | £1,889 | £680 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 4.9% | 14.8% | 9.8% |
£15,251
Gross£15,251
Take-Home£14,500
You Keep95.1%
£26,591
Gross£26,591
Take-Home£22,665
You Keep85.2%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,251
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£536.20
National Insurance£214.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,208.36
£26,591
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,804.20
National Insurance£1,121.68
Take Home (Monthly)£1,888.76
What £680.40 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
Savings Boost
£8,164.80/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,251 vs £26,591
£15,251
- Gross Pay£15,251.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,500.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,208.36
- Effective Tax Rate4.9%
£26,591
- Gross Pay£26,591.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,665.12
- Take Home (Month)£1,888.76
- Effective Tax Rate14.8%
The difference in take-home pay is £8,165 per year, which works out to £680.40 per month.