Updated for 2025/26
£15,500 vs £20,000 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,500 salary against £20,000. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£270.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£16,200
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 | £15,500 | £20,000 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,500 | £20,000 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £586 | £1,486 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £234 | £594 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,680 | £17,920 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,223 | £1,493 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.3% | 10.4% | 5.1% |
£15,500
Gross£15,500
Take-Home£14,680
You Keep94.7%
£20,000
Gross£20,000
Take-Home£17,920
You Keep89.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,500
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£586.00
National Insurance£234.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,223.30
£20,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,486.00
National Insurance£594.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,493.30
What £270.00 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: £15,500 vs £20,000
£15,500
- Gross Pay£15,500.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,679.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,223.30
- Effective Tax Rate5.3%
£20,000
- Gross Pay£20,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£17,919.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,493.30
- Effective Tax Rate10.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.