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Updated for 2025/26

£12,020 vs £25,880 Salary Comparison

Compare a £12,020 salary against £25,880. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£13,860
per year
Take Home Extra
+£844.43
per month
You Keep
73%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£50,666
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£12,020£25,880Difference
Gross Salary£12,020£25,880£13,860
Income Tax£0£2,662£2,662
National Insurance£0£1,065£1,065
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£12,020
£22,153
£10,133
Take-Home (Monthly)£1,002£1,846£844
Effective Tax Rate0.0%14.4%14.4%

£12,020

Gross£12,020
Take-Home£12,020
You Keep100.0%

£25,880

Gross£25,880
Take-Home£22,153
You Keep85.6%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£12,020

Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,001.67

£25,880

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,662.00
National Insurance£1,064.80
Take Home (Monthly)£1,846.10

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 £844.43 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
£10,133.20/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease

Full Comparison: £12,020 vs £25,880

£12,020

  • Gross Pay£12,020.00
  • Take Home (Year)£12,020.00
  • Take Home (Month)£1,001.67
  • Effective Tax Rate0.0%

£25,880

  • Gross Pay£25,880.00
  • Take Home (Year)£22,153.20
  • Take Home (Month)£1,846.10
  • Effective Tax Rate14.4%

The difference in take-home pay is £10,133 per year, which works out to £844.43 per month.