Updated for 2025/26
£16,385 vs £21,385 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,385 salary against £21,385. 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 | £16,385 | £21,385 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,385 | £21,385 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £763 | £1,763 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £305 | £705 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,317 | £18,917 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,276 | £1,576 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.5% | 11.5% | 5.0% |
£16,385
Gross£16,385
Take-Home£15,317
You Keep93.5%
£21,385
Gross£21,385
Take-Home£18,917
You Keep88.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,385
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£763.00
National Insurance£305.20
Take Home (Monthly)£1,276.40
£21,385
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,763.00
National Insurance£705.20
Take Home (Monthly)£1,576.40
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: £16,385 vs £21,385
£16,385
- Gross Pay£16,385.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,316.80
- Take Home (Month)£1,276.40
- Effective Tax Rate6.5%
£21,385
- Gross Pay£21,385.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,916.80
- Take Home (Month)£1,576.40
- Effective Tax Rate11.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.