Updated for 2025/26
£20,988 vs £29,988 Salary Comparison
Compare a £20,988 salary against £29,988. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£9,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£540.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£32,400
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 | £20,988 | £29,988 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £20,988 | £29,988 | £9,000 |
| Income Tax | £1,684 | £3,484 | £1,800 |
| National Insurance | £673 | £1,393 | £720 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £18,631 | £25,111 | £6,480 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,553 | £2,093 | £540 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.2% | 16.3% | 5.0% |
£20,988
Gross£20,988
Take-Home£18,631
You Keep88.8%
£29,988
Gross£29,988
Take-Home£25,111
You Keep83.7%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£20,988
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,683.60
National Insurance£673.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,552.58
£29,988
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,483.60
National Insurance£1,393.44
Take Home (Monthly)£2,092.58
What £540.00 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
£6,480.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £20,988 vs £29,988
£20,988
- Gross Pay£20,988.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,630.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,552.58
- Effective Tax Rate11.2%
£29,988
- Gross Pay£29,988.00
- Take Home (Year)£25,110.96
- Take Home (Month)£2,092.58
- Effective Tax Rate16.3%
The difference in take-home pay is £6,480 per year, which works out to £540.00 per month.