Updated for 2025/26
£15,000 vs £25,000 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,000 salary against £25,000. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£10,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£600.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£36,000
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 | £15,000 | £25,000 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,000 | £25,000 | £10,000 |
| Income Tax | £486 | £2,486 | £2,000 |
| National Insurance | £194 | £994 | £800 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,320 | £21,520 | £7,200 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,193 | £1,793 | £600 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 4.5% | 13.9% | 9.4% |
£15,000
Gross£15,000
Take-Home£14,320
You Keep95.5%
£25,000
Gross£25,000
Take-Home£21,520
You Keep86.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£486.00
National Insurance£194.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,193.30
£25,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,486.00
National Insurance£994.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,793.30
What £600.00 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
£7,200.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,000 vs £25,000
£15,000
- Gross Pay£15,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,319.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,193.30
- Effective Tax Rate4.5%
£25,000
- Gross Pay£25,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£21,519.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,793.30
- Effective Tax Rate13.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,200 per year, which works out to £600.00 per month.