Updated for 2025/26
£15,985 vs £25,985 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,985 salary against £25,985. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£10,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£600.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£36,000
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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £15,985 | £25,985 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,985 | £25,985 | £10,000 |
| Income Tax | £683 | £2,683 | £2,000 |
| National Insurance | £273 | £1,073 | £800 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,029 | £22,229 | £7,200 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,252 | £1,852 | £600 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.0% | 14.5% | 8.5% |
£15,985
Gross£15,985
Take-Home£15,029
You Keep94.0%
£25,985
Gross£25,985
Take-Home£22,229
You Keep85.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,985
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£683.00
National Insurance£273.20
Take Home (Monthly)£1,252.40
£25,985
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,683.00
National Insurance£1,073.20
Take Home (Monthly)£1,852.40
What £600.00 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
£7,200.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,985 vs £25,985
£15,985
- Gross Pay£15,985.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,028.80
- Take Home (Month)£1,252.40
- Effective Tax Rate6.0%
£25,985
- Gross Pay£25,985.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,228.80
- Take Home (Month)£1,852.40
- Effective Tax Rate14.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,200 per year, which works out to £600.00 per month.