Updated for 2025/26
£10,221 vs £15,221 Salary Comparison
Compare a £10,221 salary against £15,221. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£354.81
per month
You Keep
85%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£21,289
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 | £10,221 | £15,221 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £10,221 | £15,221 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £530 | £530 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £212 | £212 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £10,221 | £14,479 | £4,258 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £852 | £1,207 | £355 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 4.9% | 4.9% |
£10,221
Gross£10,221
Take-Home£10,221
You Keep100.0%
£15,221
Gross£15,221
Take-Home£14,479
You Keep95.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£10,221
Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£851.75
£15,221
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£530.20
National Insurance£212.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,206.56
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 £354.81 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: £10,221 vs £15,221
£10,221
- Gross Pay£10,221.00
- Take Home (Year)£10,221.00
- Take Home (Month)£851.75
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£15,221
- Gross Pay£15,221.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,478.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,206.56
- Effective Tax Rate4.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £4,258 per year, which works out to £354.81 per month.