Updated for 2025/26
£16,943 vs £21,443 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,943 salary against £21,443. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£270.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£16,200
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 | £16,943 | £21,443 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,943 | £21,443 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £875 | £1,775 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £350 | £710 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,719 | £18,959 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,310 | £1,580 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 7.2% | 11.6% | 4.4% |
£16,943
Gross£16,943
Take-Home£15,719
You Keep92.8%
£21,443
Gross£21,443
Take-Home£18,959
You Keep88.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,943
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£874.60
National Insurance£349.84
Take Home (Monthly)£1,309.88
£21,443
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,774.60
National Insurance£709.84
Take Home (Monthly)£1,579.88
What £270.00 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: £16,943 vs £21,443
£16,943
- Gross Pay£16,943.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,718.56
- Take Home (Month)£1,309.88
- Effective Tax Rate7.2%
£21,443
- Gross Pay£21,443.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,958.56
- Take Home (Month)£1,579.88
- Effective Tax Rate11.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.