Updated for 2025/26
£10,000 vs £15,000 Salary Comparison
Compare a £10,000 salary against £15,000. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£359.97
per month
You Keep
86%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£21,598
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 | £10,000 | £15,000 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £10,000 | £15,000 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £486 | £486 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £194 | £194 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £10,000 | £14,320 | £4,320 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £833 | £1,193 | £360 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 4.5% | 4.5% |
£10,000
Gross£10,000
Take-Home£10,000
You Keep100.0%
£15,000
Gross£15,000
Take-Home£14,320
You Keep95.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£10,000
Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£833.33
£15,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£486.00
National Insurance£194.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,193.30
Tax Band Change: This salary increase crosses from the Personal Allowance (0%) into the Basic Rate (20%). The portion above £12,570.00 will be taxed at the higher rate.
What £359.97 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: £10,000 vs £15,000
£10,000
- Gross Pay£10,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£10,000.00
- Take Home (Month)£833.33
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£15,000
- Gross Pay£15,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,319.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,193.30
- Effective Tax Rate4.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £4,320 per year, which works out to £359.97 per month.