Updated for 2025/26
£15,981 vs £20,981 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,981 salary against £20,981. 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 | £15,981 | £20,981 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,981 | £20,981 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £682 | £1,682 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £273 | £673 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,026 | £18,626 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,252 | £1,552 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.0% | 11.2% | 5.2% |
£15,981
Gross£15,981
Take-Home£15,026
You Keep94.0%
£20,981
Gross£20,981
Take-Home£18,626
You Keep88.8%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,981
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£682.20
National Insurance£272.88
Take Home (Monthly)£1,252.16
£20,981
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,682.20
National Insurance£672.88
Take Home (Monthly)£1,552.16
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: £15,981 vs £20,981
£15,981
- Gross Pay£15,981.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,025.92
- Take Home (Month)£1,252.16
- Effective Tax Rate6.0%
£20,981
- Gross Pay£20,981.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,625.92
- Take Home (Month)£1,552.16
- Effective Tax Rate11.2%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.