Updated for 2025/26
£14,521 vs £20,021 Salary Comparison
Compare a £14,521 salary against £20,021. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£330.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£19,800
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 | £14,521 | £20,021 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £14,521 | £20,021 | £5,500 |
| Income Tax | £390 | £1,490 | £1,100 |
| National Insurance | £156 | £596 | £440 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £13,975 | £17,935 | £3,960 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,165 | £1,495 | £330 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 3.8% | 10.4% | 6.7% |
£14,521
Gross£14,521
Take-Home£13,975
You Keep96.2%
£20,021
Gross£20,021
Take-Home£17,935
You Keep89.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£14,521
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£390.20
National Insurance£156.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,164.56
£20,021
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,490.20
National Insurance£596.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,494.56
What £330.00 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
Full Comparison: £14,521 vs £20,021
£14,521
- Gross Pay£14,521.00
- Take Home (Year)£13,974.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,164.56
- Effective Tax Rate3.8%
£20,021
- Gross Pay£20,021.00
- Take Home (Year)£17,934.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,494.56
- Effective Tax Rate10.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,960 per year, which works out to £330.00 per month.