Updated for 2025/26
£11,526 vs £16,026 Salary Comparison
Compare a £11,526 salary against £16,026. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£294.36
per month
You Keep
78%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£17,662
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 | £11,526 | £16,026 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £11,526 | £16,026 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £691 | £691 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £276 | £276 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £11,526 | £15,058 | £3,532 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £961 | £1,255 | £294 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% |
£11,526
Gross£11,526
Take-Home£11,526
You Keep100.0%
£16,026
Gross£16,026
Take-Home£15,058
You Keep94.0%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£11,526
Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£960.50
£16,026
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£691.20
National Insurance£276.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,254.86
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 £294.36 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: £11,526 vs £16,026
£11,526
- Gross Pay£11,526.00
- Take Home (Year)£11,526.00
- Take Home (Month)£960.50
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£16,026
- Gross Pay£16,026.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,058.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,254.86
- Effective Tax Rate6.0%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,532 per year, which works out to £294.36 per month.