Updated for 2025/26
£12,991 vs £20,944 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,991 salary against £20,944. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£7,953
per year
Take Home Extra
+£477.18
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£28,631
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 | £12,991 | £20,944 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,991 | £20,944 | £7,953 |
| Income Tax | £84 | £1,675 | £1,591 |
| National Insurance | £34 | £670 | £636 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,873 | £18,599 | £5,726 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,073 | £1,550 | £477 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.9% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
£12,991
Gross£12,991
Take-Home£12,873
You Keep99.1%
£20,944
Gross£20,944
Take-Home£18,599
You Keep88.8%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£12,991
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£84.20
National Insurance£33.68
Take Home (Monthly)£1,072.76
£20,944
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,674.80
National Insurance£669.92
Take Home (Monthly)£1,549.94
What £477.18 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
£5,726.16/year extra into savings or investments
Full Comparison: £12,991 vs £20,944
£12,991
- Gross Pay£12,991.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,873.12
- Take Home (Month)£1,072.76
- Effective Tax Rate0.9%
£20,944
- Gross Pay£20,944.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,599.28
- Take Home (Month)£1,549.94
- Effective Tax Rate11.2%
The difference in take-home pay is £5,726 per year, which works out to £477.18 per month.