Updated for 2025/26
£12,980 vs £25,985 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,980 salary against £25,985. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£13,005
per year
Take Home Extra
+£780.30
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£46,818
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 | £12,980 | £25,985 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,980 | £25,985 | £13,005 |
| Income Tax | £82 | £2,683 | £2,601 |
| National Insurance | £33 | £1,073 | £1,040 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,865 | £22,229 | £9,364 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,072 | £1,852 | £780 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.9% | 14.5% | 13.6% |
£12,980
Gross£12,980
Take-Home£12,865
You Keep99.1%
£25,985
Gross£25,985
Take-Home£22,229
You Keep85.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£12,980
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£82.00
National Insurance£32.80
Take Home (Monthly)£1,072.10
£25,985
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,683.00
National Insurance£1,073.20
Take Home (Monthly)£1,852.40
What £780.30 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
£9,363.60/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £12,980 vs £25,985
£12,980
- Gross Pay£12,980.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,865.20
- Take Home (Month)£1,072.10
- Effective Tax Rate0.9%
£25,985
- Gross Pay£25,985.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,228.80
- Take Home (Month)£1,852.40
- Effective Tax Rate14.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £9,364 per year, which works out to £780.30 per month.