Updated for 2025/26
£15,488 vs £20,988 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,488 salary against £20,988. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£330.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£19,800
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 | £15,488 | £20,988 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,488 | £20,988 | £5,500 |
| Income Tax | £584 | £1,684 | £1,100 |
| National Insurance | £233 | £673 | £440 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,671 | £18,631 | £3,960 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,223 | £1,553 | £330 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.3% | 11.2% | 6.0% |
£15,488
Gross£15,488
Take-Home£14,671
You Keep94.7%
£20,988
Gross£20,988
Take-Home£18,631
You Keep88.8%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,488
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£583.60
National Insurance£233.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,222.58
£20,988
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,683.60
National Insurance£673.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,552.58
What £330.00 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
Full Comparison: £15,488 vs £20,988
£15,488
- Gross Pay£15,488.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,670.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,222.58
- Effective Tax Rate5.3%
£20,988
- Gross Pay£20,988.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,630.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,552.58
- Effective Tax Rate11.2%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,960 per year, which works out to £330.00 per month.