Updated for 2025/26
£16,255 vs £21,155 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,255 salary against £21,155. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,900
per year
Take Home Extra
+£294.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£17,640
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 | £16,255 | £21,155 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,255 | £21,155 | £4,900 |
| Income Tax | £737 | £1,717 | £980 |
| National Insurance | £295 | £687 | £392 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,223 | £18,751 | £3,528 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,269 | £1,563 | £294 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.3% | 11.4% | 5.0% |
£16,255
Gross£16,255
Take-Home£15,223
You Keep93.7%
£21,155
Gross£21,155
Take-Home£18,751
You Keep88.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,255
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£737.00
National Insurance£294.80
Take Home (Monthly)£1,268.60
£21,155
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,717.00
National Insurance£686.80
Take Home (Monthly)£1,562.60
What £294.00 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: £16,255 vs £21,155
£16,255
- Gross Pay£16,255.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,223.20
- Take Home (Month)£1,268.60
- Effective Tax Rate6.3%
£21,155
- Gross Pay£21,155.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,751.20
- Take Home (Month)£1,562.60
- Effective Tax Rate11.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,528 per year, which works out to £294.00 per month.