Updated for 2025/26
£16,381 vs £21,381 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,381 salary against £21,381. 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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £16,381 | £21,381 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,381 | £21,381 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £762 | £1,762 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £305 | £705 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,314 | £18,914 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,276 | £1,576 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.5% | 11.5% | 5.0% |
£16,381
Gross£16,381
Take-Home£15,314
You Keep93.5%
£21,381
Gross£21,381
Take-Home£18,914
You Keep88.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,381
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£762.20
National Insurance£304.88
Take Home (Monthly)£1,276.16
£21,381
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,762.20
National Insurance£704.88
Take Home (Monthly)£1,576.16
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: £16,381 vs £21,381
£16,381
- Gross Pay£16,381.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,313.92
- Take Home (Month)£1,276.16
- Effective Tax Rate6.5%
£21,381
- Gross Pay£21,381.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,913.92
- Take Home (Month)£1,576.16
- Effective Tax Rate11.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.