Updated for 2025/26
£15,994 vs £25,949 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,994 salary against £25,949. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£9,955
per year
Take Home Extra
+£597.30
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£35,838
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 | £15,994 | £25,949 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,994 | £25,949 | £9,955 |
| Income Tax | £685 | £2,676 | £1,991 |
| National Insurance | £274 | £1,070 | £796 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,035 | £22,203 | £7,168 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,253 | £1,850 | £597 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.0% | 14.4% | 8.4% |
£15,994
Gross£15,994
Take-Home£15,035
You Keep94.0%
£25,949
Gross£25,949
Take-Home£22,203
You Keep85.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,994
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£684.80
National Insurance£273.92
Take Home (Monthly)£1,252.94
£25,949
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,675.80
National Insurance£1,070.32
Take Home (Monthly)£1,850.24
What £597.30 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
£7,167.60/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,994 vs £25,949
£15,994
- Gross Pay£15,994.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,035.28
- Take Home (Month)£1,252.94
- Effective Tax Rate6.0%
£25,949
- Gross Pay£25,949.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,202.88
- Take Home (Month)£1,850.24
- Effective Tax Rate14.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,168 per year, which works out to £597.30 per month.