Updated for 2025/26
£15,954 vs £20,004 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,954 salary against £20,004. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,050
per year
Take Home Extra
+£243.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£14,580
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 | £15,954 | £20,004 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,954 | £20,004 | £4,050 |
| Income Tax | £677 | £1,487 | £810 |
| National Insurance | £271 | £595 | £324 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,006 | £17,922 | £2,916 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,251 | £1,494 | £243 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.9% | 10.4% | 4.5% |
£15,954
Gross£15,954
Take-Home£15,006
You Keep94.1%
£20,004
Gross£20,004
Take-Home£17,922
You Keep89.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,954
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£676.80
National Insurance£270.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,250.54
£20,004
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,486.80
National Insurance£594.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,493.54
What £243.00 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: £15,954 vs £20,004
£15,954
- Gross Pay£15,954.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,006.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,250.54
- Effective Tax Rate5.9%
£20,004
- Gross Pay£20,004.00
- Take Home (Year)£17,922.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,493.54
- Effective Tax Rate10.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £2,916 per year, which works out to £243.00 per month.