Updated for 2025/26
£15,488 vs £25,488 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,488 salary against £25,488. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£10,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£600.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£36,000
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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £15,488 | £25,488 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,488 | £25,488 | £10,000 |
| Income Tax | £584 | £2,584 | £2,000 |
| National Insurance | £233 | £1,033 | £800 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,671 | £21,871 | £7,200 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,223 | £1,823 | £600 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.3% | 14.2% | 8.9% |
£15,488
Gross£15,488
Take-Home£14,671
You Keep94.7%
£25,488
Gross£25,488
Take-Home£21,871
You Keep85.8%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,488
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£583.60
National Insurance£233.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,222.58
£25,488
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,583.60
National Insurance£1,033.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,822.58
What £600.00 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
£7,200.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,488 vs £25,488
£15,488
- Gross Pay£15,488.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,670.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,222.58
- Effective Tax Rate5.3%
£25,488
- Gross Pay£25,488.00
- Take Home (Year)£21,870.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,822.58
- Effective Tax Rate14.2%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,200 per year, which works out to £600.00 per month.