Updated for 2025/26
£12,096 vs £21,096 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,096 salary against £21,096. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£9,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£551.06
per month
You Keep
73%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£33,064
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 | £12,096 | £21,096 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,096 | £21,096 | £9,000 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £1,705 | £1,705 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £682 | £682 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,096 | £18,709 | £6,613 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,008 | £1,559 | £551 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 11.3% | 11.3% |
£12,096
Gross£12,096
Take-Home£12,096
You Keep100.0%
£21,096
Gross£21,096
Take-Home£18,709
You Keep88.7%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£12,096
Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,008.00
£21,096
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,705.20
National Insurance£682.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,559.06
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 £551.06 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
£6,612.72/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £12,096 vs £21,096
£12,096
- Gross Pay£12,096.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,096.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,008.00
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£21,096
- Gross Pay£21,096.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,708.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,559.06
- Effective Tax Rate11.3%
The difference in take-home pay is £6,613 per year, which works out to £551.06 per month.