Updated for 2025/26
£15,258 vs £21,429 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,258 salary against £21,429. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£6,171
per year
Take Home Extra
+£370.26
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£22,216
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 | £15,258 | £21,429 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,258 | £21,429 | £6,171 |
| Income Tax | £538 | £1,772 | £1,234 |
| National Insurance | £215 | £709 | £494 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,505 | £18,948 | £4,443 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,209 | £1,579 | £370 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 4.9% | 11.6% | 6.6% |
£15,258
Gross£15,258
Take-Home£14,505
You Keep95.1%
£21,429
Gross£21,429
Take-Home£18,948
You Keep88.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,258
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£537.60
National Insurance£215.04
Take Home (Monthly)£1,208.78
£21,429
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,771.80
National Insurance£708.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,579.04
What £370.26 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: £15,258 vs £21,429
£15,258
- Gross Pay£15,258.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,505.36
- Take Home (Month)£1,208.78
- Effective Tax Rate4.9%
£21,429
- Gross Pay£21,429.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,948.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,579.04
- Effective Tax Rate11.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £4,443 per year, which works out to £370.26 per month.