Updated for 2025/26
£16,262 vs £26,040 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,262 salary against £26,040. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£9,778
per year
Take Home Extra
+£586.68
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£35,201
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 | £16,262 | £26,040 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,262 | £26,040 | £9,778 |
| Income Tax | £738 | £2,694 | £1,956 |
| National Insurance | £295 | £1,078 | £782 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,228 | £22,268 | £7,040 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,269 | £1,856 | £587 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.4% | 14.5% | 8.1% |
£16,262
Gross£16,262
Take-Home£15,228
You Keep93.6%
£26,040
Gross£26,040
Take-Home£22,268
You Keep85.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,262
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£738.40
National Insurance£295.36
Take Home (Monthly)£1,269.02
£26,040
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,694.00
National Insurance£1,077.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,855.70
What £586.68 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
£7,040.16/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £16,262 vs £26,040
£16,262
- Gross Pay£16,262.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,228.24
- Take Home (Month)£1,269.02
- Effective Tax Rate6.4%
£26,040
- Gross Pay£26,040.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,268.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,855.70
- Effective Tax Rate14.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,040 per year, which works out to £586.68 per month.