Updated for 2025/26
£11,980 vs £20,043 Salary Comparison
Compare a £11,980 salary against £20,043. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£8,063
per year
Take Home Extra
+£497.55
per month
You Keep
74%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£29,853
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 | £11,980 | £20,043 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £11,980 | £20,043 | £8,063 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £1,495 | £1,495 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £598 | £598 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £11,980 | £17,951 | £5,971 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £998 | £1,496 | £498 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 10.4% | 10.4% |
£11,980
Gross£11,980
Take-Home£11,980
You Keep100.0%
£20,043
Gross£20,043
Take-Home£17,951
You Keep89.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£11,980
Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£998.33
£20,043
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,494.60
National Insurance£597.84
Take Home (Monthly)£1,495.88
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 £497.55 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
Savings Boost
£5,970.56/year extra into savings or investments
Full Comparison: £11,980 vs £20,043
£11,980
- Gross Pay£11,980.00
- Take Home (Year)£11,980.00
- Take Home (Month)£998.33
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£20,043
- Gross Pay£20,043.00
- Take Home (Year)£17,950.56
- Take Home (Month)£1,495.88
- Effective Tax Rate10.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £5,971 per year, which works out to £497.55 per month.