Updated for 2025/26
£26,431 vs £30,481 Salary Comparison
Compare a £26,431 salary against £30,481. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,050
per year
Take Home Extra
+£243.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£14,580
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 | £26,431 | £30,481 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £26,431 | £30,481 | £4,050 |
| Income Tax | £2,772 | £3,582 | £810 |
| National Insurance | £1,109 | £1,433 | £324 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £22,550 | £25,466 | £2,916 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,879 | £2,122 | £243 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 14.7% | 16.5% | 1.8% |
£26,431
Gross£26,431
Take-Home£22,550
You Keep85.3%
£30,481
Gross£30,481
Take-Home£25,466
You Keep83.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£26,431
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,772.20
National Insurance£1,108.88
Take Home (Monthly)£1,879.16
£30,481
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,582.20
National Insurance£1,432.88
Take Home (Monthly)£2,122.16
What £243.00 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: £26,431 vs £30,481
£26,431
- Gross Pay£26,431.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,549.92
- Take Home (Month)£1,879.16
- Effective Tax Rate14.7%
£30,481
- Gross Pay£30,481.00
- Take Home (Year)£25,465.92
- Take Home (Month)£2,122.16
- Effective Tax Rate16.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £2,916 per year, which works out to £243.00 per month.