Updated for 2025/26
£15,604 vs £26,004 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,604 salary against £26,004. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£10,400
per year
Take Home Extra
+£624.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£37,440
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 | £15,604 | £26,004 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,604 | £26,004 | £10,400 |
| Income Tax | £607 | £2,687 | £2,080 |
| National Insurance | £243 | £1,075 | £832 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,754 | £22,242 | £7,488 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,230 | £1,854 | £624 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.4% | 14.5% | 9.0% |
£15,604
Gross£15,604
Take-Home£14,754
You Keep94.6%
£26,004
Gross£26,004
Take-Home£22,242
You Keep85.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,604
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£606.80
National Insurance£242.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,229.54
£26,004
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,686.80
National Insurance£1,074.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,853.54
What £624.00 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
£7,488.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,604 vs £26,004
£15,604
- Gross Pay£15,604.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,754.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,229.54
- Effective Tax Rate5.4%
£26,004
- Gross Pay£26,004.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,242.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,853.54
- Effective Tax Rate14.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,488 per year, which works out to £624.00 per month.