Updated for 2025/26
£15,990 vs £21,435 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,990 salary against £21,435. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,445
per year
Take Home Extra
+£326.70
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£19,602
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 | £15,990 | £21,435 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,990 | £21,435 | £5,445 |
| Income Tax | £684 | £1,773 | £1,089 |
| National Insurance | £274 | £709 | £436 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,032 | £18,953 | £3,920 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,253 | £1,579 | £327 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.0% | 11.6% | 5.6% |
£15,990
Gross£15,990
Take-Home£15,032
You Keep94.0%
£21,435
Gross£21,435
Take-Home£18,953
You Keep88.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,990
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£684.00
National Insurance£273.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,252.70
£21,435
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,773.00
National Insurance£709.20
Take Home (Monthly)£1,579.40
What £326.70 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: £15,990 vs £21,435
£15,990
- Gross Pay£15,990.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,032.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,252.70
- Effective Tax Rate6.0%
£21,435
- Gross Pay£21,435.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,952.80
- Take Home (Month)£1,579.40
- Effective Tax Rate11.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,920 per year, which works out to £326.70 per month.