Updated for 2025/26
£15,245 vs £21,295 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,245 salary against £21,295. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£6,050
per year
Take Home Extra
+£363.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£21,780
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 | £15,245 | £21,295 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,245 | £21,295 | £6,050 |
| Income Tax | £535 | £1,745 | £1,210 |
| National Insurance | £214 | £698 | £484 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,496 | £18,852 | £4,356 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,208 | £1,571 | £363 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 4.9% | 11.5% | 6.6% |
£15,245
Gross£15,245
Take-Home£14,496
You Keep95.1%
£21,295
Gross£21,295
Take-Home£18,852
You Keep88.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,245
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£535.00
National Insurance£214.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,208.00
£21,295
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,745.00
National Insurance£698.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,571.00
What £363.00 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: £15,245 vs £21,295
£15,245
- Gross Pay£15,245.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,496.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,208.00
- Effective Tax Rate4.9%
£21,295
- Gross Pay£21,295.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,852.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,571.00
- Effective Tax Rate11.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £4,356 per year, which works out to £363.00 per month.