Updated for 2025/26
£16,355 vs £21,855 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,355 salary against £21,855. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£330.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£19,800
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 | £16,355 | £21,855 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,355 | £21,855 | £5,500 |
| Income Tax | £757 | £1,857 | £1,100 |
| National Insurance | £303 | £743 | £440 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,295 | £19,255 | £3,960 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,275 | £1,605 | £330 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.5% | 11.9% | 5.4% |
£16,355
Gross£16,355
Take-Home£15,295
You Keep93.5%
£21,855
Gross£21,855
Take-Home£19,255
You Keep88.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,355
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£757.00
National Insurance£302.80
Take Home (Monthly)£1,274.60
£21,855
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,857.00
National Insurance£742.80
Take Home (Monthly)£1,604.60
What £330.00 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: £16,355 vs £21,855
£16,355
- Gross Pay£16,355.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,295.20
- Take Home (Month)£1,274.60
- Effective Tax Rate6.5%
£21,855
- Gross Pay£21,855.00
- Take Home (Year)£19,255.20
- Take Home (Month)£1,604.60
- Effective Tax Rate11.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,960 per year, which works out to £330.00 per month.