Updated for 2025/26
£12,388 vs £16,888 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,388 salary against £16,888. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£274.25
per month
You Keep
73%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£16,455
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 | £12,388 | £16,888 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,388 | £16,888 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £864 | £864 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £345 | £345 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,388 | £15,679 | £3,291 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,032 | £1,307 | £274 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 7.2% | 7.2% |
£12,388
Gross£12,388
Take-Home£12,388
You Keep100.0%
£16,888
Gross£16,888
Take-Home£15,679
You Keep92.8%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£12,388
Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,032.33
£16,888
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£863.60
National Insurance£345.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,306.58
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 £274.25 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: £12,388 vs £16,888
£12,388
- Gross Pay£12,388.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,388.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,032.33
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£16,888
- Gross Pay£16,888.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,678.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,306.58
- Effective Tax Rate7.2%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,291 per year, which works out to £274.25 per month.