Updated for 2025/26
£12,490 vs £16,099 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,490 salary against £16,099. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£3,609
per year
Take Home Extra
+£218.41
per month
You Keep
73%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£13,104
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 | £12,490 | £16,099 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,490 | £16,099 | £3,609 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £706 | £706 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £282 | £282 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,490 | £15,111 | £2,621 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,041 | £1,259 | £218 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 6.1% | 6.1% |
£12,490
Gross£12,490
Take-Home£12,490
You Keep100.0%
£16,099
Gross£16,099
Take-Home£15,111
You Keep93.9%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£12,490
Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,040.83
£16,099
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£705.80
National Insurance£282.32
Take Home (Monthly)£1,259.24
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 £218.41 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: £12,490 vs £16,099
£12,490
- Gross Pay£12,490.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,490.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,040.83
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£16,099
- Gross Pay£16,099.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,110.88
- Take Home (Month)£1,259.24
- Effective Tax Rate6.1%
The difference in take-home pay is £2,621 per year, which works out to £218.41 per month.