Updated for 2025/26
£16,074 vs £21,074 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,074 salary against £21,074. 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 | £16,074 | £21,074 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,074 | £21,074 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £701 | £1,701 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £280 | £680 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,093 | £18,693 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,258 | £1,558 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.1% | 11.3% | 5.2% |
£16,074
Gross£16,074
Take-Home£15,093
You Keep93.9%
£21,074
Gross£21,074
Take-Home£18,693
You Keep88.7%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,074
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£700.80
National Insurance£280.32
Take Home (Monthly)£1,257.74
£21,074
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,700.80
National Insurance£680.32
Take Home (Monthly)£1,557.74
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: £16,074 vs £21,074
£16,074
- Gross Pay£16,074.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,092.88
- Take Home (Month)£1,257.74
- Effective Tax Rate6.1%
£21,074
- Gross Pay£21,074.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,692.88
- Take Home (Month)£1,557.74
- Effective Tax Rate11.3%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.