Updated for 2025/26
£15,506 vs £20,006 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,506 salary against £20,006. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£270.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£16,200
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 | £15,506 | £20,006 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,506 | £20,006 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £587 | £1,487 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £235 | £595 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,684 | £17,924 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,224 | £1,494 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.3% | 10.4% | 5.1% |
£15,506
Gross£15,506
Take-Home£14,684
You Keep94.7%
£20,006
Gross£20,006
Take-Home£17,924
You Keep89.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,506
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£587.20
National Insurance£234.88
Take Home (Monthly)£1,223.66
£20,006
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,487.20
National Insurance£594.88
Take Home (Monthly)£1,493.66
What £270.00 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: £15,506 vs £20,006
£15,506
- Gross Pay£15,506.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,683.92
- Take Home (Month)£1,223.66
- Effective Tax Rate5.3%
£20,006
- Gross Pay£20,006.00
- Take Home (Year)£17,923.92
- Take Home (Month)£1,493.66
- Effective Tax Rate10.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.