Updated for 2025/26
£15,246 vs £26,296 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,246 salary against £26,296. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£11,050
per year
Take Home Extra
+£663.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£39,780
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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £15,246 | £26,296 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,246 | £26,296 | £11,050 |
| Income Tax | £535 | £2,745 | £2,210 |
| National Insurance | £214 | £1,098 | £884 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,497 | £22,453 | £7,956 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,208 | £1,871 | £663 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 4.9% | 14.6% | 9.7% |
£15,246
Gross£15,246
Take-Home£14,497
You Keep95.1%
£26,296
Gross£26,296
Take-Home£22,453
You Keep85.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,246
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£535.20
National Insurance£214.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,208.06
£26,296
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,745.20
National Insurance£1,098.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,871.06
What £663.00 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
£7,956.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,246 vs £26,296
£15,246
- Gross Pay£15,246.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,496.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,208.06
- Effective Tax Rate4.9%
£26,296
- Gross Pay£26,296.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,452.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,871.06
- Effective Tax Rate14.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,956 per year, which works out to £663.00 per month.