Updated for 2025/26
£12,626 vs £15,257 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,626 salary against £15,257. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£2,631
per year
Take Home Extra
+£157.86
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£9,472
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 | £12,626 | £15,257 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,626 | £15,257 | £2,631 |
| Income Tax | £11 | £537 | £526 |
| National Insurance | £4 | £215 | £210 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,610 | £14,505 | £1,894 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,051 | £1,209 | £158 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.1% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
£12,626
Gross£12,626
Take-Home£12,610
You Keep99.9%
£15,257
Gross£15,257
Take-Home£14,505
You Keep95.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£12,626
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£11.20
National Insurance£4.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,050.86
£15,257
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£537.40
National Insurance£214.96
Take Home (Monthly)£1,208.72
What £157.86 Extra Buys You
Real-world value of the take-home difference
Monthly Subscriptions
Netflix, Spotify, gym - £100.00/mo
Full Comparison: £12,626 vs £15,257
£12,626
- Gross Pay£12,626.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,610.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,050.86
- Effective Tax Rate0.1%
£15,257
- Gross Pay£15,257.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,504.64
- Take Home (Month)£1,208.72
- Effective Tax Rate4.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £1,894 per year, which works out to £157.86 per month.