Updated for 2025/26
£12,938 vs £26,988 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,938 salary against £26,988. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£14,050
per year
Take Home Extra
+£843.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£50,580
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 | £12,938 | £26,988 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,938 | £26,988 | £14,050 |
| Income Tax | £74 | £2,884 | £2,810 |
| National Insurance | £29 | £1,153 | £1,124 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,835 | £22,951 | £10,116 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,070 | £1,913 | £843 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.8% | 15.0% | 14.2% |
£12,938
Gross£12,938
Take-Home£12,835
You Keep99.2%
£26,988
Gross£26,988
Take-Home£22,951
You Keep85.0%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£12,938
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£73.60
National Insurance£29.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,069.58
£26,988
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,883.60
National Insurance£1,153.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,912.58
What £843.00 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
£10,116.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £12,938 vs £26,988
£12,938
- Gross Pay£12,938.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,834.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,069.58
- Effective Tax Rate0.8%
£26,988
- Gross Pay£26,988.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,950.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,912.58
- Effective Tax Rate15.0%
The difference in take-home pay is £10,116 per year, which works out to £843.00 per month.