Updated for 2025/26
£15,745 vs £20,245 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,745 salary against £20,245. 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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £15,745 | £20,245 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,745 | £20,245 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £635 | £1,535 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £254 | £614 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,856 | £18,096 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,238 | £1,508 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.6% | 10.6% | 5.0% |
£15,745
Gross£15,745
Take-Home£14,856
You Keep94.4%
£20,245
Gross£20,245
Take-Home£18,096
You Keep89.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,745
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£635.00
National Insurance£254.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,238.00
£20,245
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,535.00
National Insurance£614.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,508.00
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: £15,745 vs £20,245
£15,745
- Gross Pay£15,745.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,856.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,238.00
- Effective Tax Rate5.6%
£20,245
- Gross Pay£20,245.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,096.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,508.00
- Effective Tax Rate10.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.