Updated for 2025/26
£15,388 vs £21,986 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,388 salary against £21,986. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£6,598
per year
Take Home Extra
+£395.88
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£23,753
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 | £15,388 | £21,986 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,388 | £21,986 | £6,598 |
| Income Tax | £564 | £1,883 | £1,320 |
| National Insurance | £225 | £753 | £528 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,599 | £19,350 | £4,751 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,217 | £1,612 | £396 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.1% | 12.0% | 6.9% |
£15,388
Gross£15,388
Take-Home£14,599
You Keep94.9%
£21,986
Gross£21,986
Take-Home£19,350
You Keep88.0%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,388
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£563.60
National Insurance£225.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,216.58
£21,986
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,883.20
National Insurance£753.28
Take Home (Monthly)£1,612.46
What £395.88 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: £15,388 vs £21,986
£15,388
- Gross Pay£15,388.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,598.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,216.58
- Effective Tax Rate5.1%
£21,986
- Gross Pay£21,986.00
- Take Home (Year)£19,349.52
- Take Home (Month)£1,612.46
- Effective Tax Rate12.0%
The difference in take-home pay is £4,751 per year, which works out to £395.88 per month.