Updated for 2025/26
£15,526 vs £20,526 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,526 salary against £20,526. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£300.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£18,000
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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £15,526 | £20,526 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,526 | £20,526 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £591 | £1,591 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £236 | £636 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,698 | £18,298 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,225 | £1,525 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.3% | 10.9% | 5.5% |
£15,526
Gross£15,526
Take-Home£14,698
You Keep94.7%
£20,526
Gross£20,526
Take-Home£18,298
You Keep89.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,526
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£591.20
National Insurance£236.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,224.86
£20,526
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,591.20
National Insurance£636.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,524.86
What £300.00 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: £15,526 vs £20,526
£15,526
- Gross Pay£15,526.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,698.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,224.86
- Effective Tax Rate5.3%
£20,526
- Gross Pay£20,526.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,298.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,524.86
- Effective Tax Rate10.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.