Updated for 2025/26
£15,980 vs £25,880 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,980 salary against £25,880. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£9,900
per year
Take Home Extra
+£594.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£35,640
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 | £15,980 | £25,880 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,980 | £25,880 | £9,900 |
| Income Tax | £682 | £2,662 | £1,980 |
| National Insurance | £273 | £1,065 | £792 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,025 | £22,153 | £7,128 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,252 | £1,846 | £594 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.0% | 14.4% | 8.4% |
£15,980
Gross£15,980
Take-Home£15,025
You Keep94.0%
£25,880
Gross£25,880
Take-Home£22,153
You Keep85.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,980
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£682.00
National Insurance£272.80
Take Home (Monthly)£1,252.10
£25,880
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,662.00
National Insurance£1,064.80
Take Home (Monthly)£1,846.10
What £594.00 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
£7,128.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,980 vs £25,880
£15,980
- Gross Pay£15,980.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,025.20
- Take Home (Month)£1,252.10
- Effective Tax Rate6.0%
£25,880
- Gross Pay£25,880.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,153.20
- Take Home (Month)£1,846.10
- Effective Tax Rate14.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,128 per year, which works out to £594.00 per month.