Updated for 2025/26
£15,338 vs £20,288 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,338 salary against £20,288. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,950
per year
Take Home Extra
+£297.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£17,820
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 | £15,338 | £20,288 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,338 | £20,288 | £4,950 |
| Income Tax | £554 | £1,544 | £990 |
| National Insurance | £221 | £617 | £396 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,563 | £18,127 | £3,564 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,214 | £1,511 | £297 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.1% | 10.7% | 5.6% |
£15,338
Gross£15,338
Take-Home£14,563
You Keep94.9%
£20,288
Gross£20,288
Take-Home£18,127
You Keep89.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,338
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£553.60
National Insurance£221.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,213.58
£20,288
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,543.60
National Insurance£617.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,510.58
What £297.00 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: £15,338 vs £20,288
£15,338
- Gross Pay£15,338.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,562.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,213.58
- Effective Tax Rate5.1%
£20,288
- Gross Pay£20,288.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,126.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,510.58
- Effective Tax Rate10.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,564 per year, which works out to £297.00 per month.