Updated for 2025/26
£15,170 vs £20,170 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,170 salary against £20,170. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£300.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£18,000
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 | £15,170 | £20,170 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,170 | £20,170 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £520 | £1,520 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £208 | £608 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,442 | £18,042 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,204 | £1,504 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 4.8% | 10.6% | 5.8% |
£15,170
Gross£15,170
Take-Home£14,442
You Keep95.2%
£20,170
Gross£20,170
Take-Home£18,042
You Keep89.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,170
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£520.00
National Insurance£208.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,203.50
£20,170
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,520.00
National Insurance£608.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,503.50
What £300.00 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: £15,170 vs £20,170
£15,170
- Gross Pay£15,170.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,442.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,203.50
- Effective Tax Rate4.8%
£20,170
- Gross Pay£20,170.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,042.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,503.50
- Effective Tax Rate10.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.