Updated for 2025/26
£26,996 vs £31,046 Salary Comparison
Compare a £26,996 salary against £31,046. 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 | £26,996 | £31,046 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £26,996 | £31,046 | £4,050 |
| Income Tax | £2,885 | £3,695 | £810 |
| National Insurance | £1,154 | £1,478 | £324 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £22,957 | £25,873 | £2,916 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,913 | £2,156 | £243 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 15.0% | 16.7% | 1.7% |
£26,996
Gross£26,996
Take-Home£22,957
You Keep85.0%
£31,046
Gross£31,046
Take-Home£25,873
You Keep83.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£26,996
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,885.20
National Insurance£1,154.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,913.06
£31,046
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,695.20
National Insurance£1,478.08
Take Home (Monthly)£2,156.06
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: £26,996 vs £31,046
£26,996
- Gross Pay£26,996.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,956.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,913.06
- Effective Tax Rate15.0%
£31,046
- Gross Pay£31,046.00
- Take Home (Year)£25,872.72
- Take Home (Month)£2,156.06
- Effective Tax Rate16.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £2,916 per year, which works out to £243.00 per month.