Updated for 2025/26
£15,949 vs £20,949 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,949 salary against £20,949. 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
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £15,949 | £20,949 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,949 | £20,949 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £676 | £1,676 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £270 | £670 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,003 | £18,603 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,250 | £1,550 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.9% | 11.2% | 5.3% |
£15,949
Gross£15,949
Take-Home£15,003
You Keep94.1%
£20,949
Gross£20,949
Take-Home£18,603
You Keep88.8%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,949
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£675.80
National Insurance£270.32
Take Home (Monthly)£1,250.24
£20,949
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,675.80
National Insurance£670.32
Take Home (Monthly)£1,550.24
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: £15,949 vs £20,949
£15,949
- Gross Pay£15,949.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,002.88
- Take Home (Month)£1,250.24
- Effective Tax Rate5.9%
£20,949
- Gross Pay£20,949.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,602.88
- Take Home (Month)£1,550.24
- Effective Tax Rate11.2%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.