Updated for 2025/26
£15,400 vs £30,400 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,400 salary against £30,400. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£15,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£900.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£54,000
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 | £15,400 | £30,400 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,400 | £30,400 | £15,000 |
| Income Tax | £566 | £3,566 | £3,000 |
| National Insurance | £226 | £1,426 | £1,200 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,608 | £25,408 | £10,800 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,217 | £2,117 | £900 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.1% | 16.4% | 11.3% |
£15,400
Gross£15,400
Take-Home£14,608
You Keep94.9%
£30,400
Gross£30,400
Take-Home£25,408
You Keep83.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,400
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£566.00
National Insurance£226.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,217.30
£30,400
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,566.00
National Insurance£1,426.40
Take Home (Monthly)£2,117.30
What £900.00 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
£10,800.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,400 vs £30,400
£15,400
- Gross Pay£15,400.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,607.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,217.30
- Effective Tax Rate5.1%
£30,400
- Gross Pay£30,400.00
- Take Home (Year)£25,407.60
- Take Home (Month)£2,117.30
- Effective Tax Rate16.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £10,800 per year, which works out to £900.00 per month.