Updated for 2025/26
£16,491 vs £26,991 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,491 salary against £26,991. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£10,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£630.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£37,800
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 | £16,491 | £26,991 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,491 | £26,991 | £10,500 |
| Income Tax | £784 | £2,884 | £2,100 |
| National Insurance | £314 | £1,154 | £840 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,393 | £22,953 | £7,560 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,283 | £1,913 | £630 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.7% | 15.0% | 8.3% |
£16,491
Gross£16,491
Take-Home£15,393
You Keep93.3%
£26,991
Gross£26,991
Take-Home£22,953
You Keep85.0%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,491
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£784.20
National Insurance£313.68
Take Home (Monthly)£1,282.76
£26,991
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,884.20
National Insurance£1,153.68
Take Home (Monthly)£1,912.76
What £630.00 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
Savings Boost
£7,560.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £16,491 vs £26,991
£16,491
- Gross Pay£16,491.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,393.12
- Take Home (Month)£1,282.76
- Effective Tax Rate6.7%
£26,991
- Gross Pay£26,991.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,953.12
- Take Home (Month)£1,912.76
- Effective Tax Rate15.0%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,560 per year, which works out to £630.00 per month.