Updated for 2025/26
£15,515 vs £20,515 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,515 salary against £20,515. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£300.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£18,000
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
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £15,515 | £20,515 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,515 | £20,515 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £589 | £1,589 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £236 | £636 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,690 | £18,290 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,224 | £1,524 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.3% | 10.8% | 5.5% |
£15,515
Gross£15,515
Take-Home£14,690
You Keep94.7%
£20,515
Gross£20,515
Take-Home£18,290
You Keep89.2%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,515
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£589.00
National Insurance£235.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,224.20
£20,515
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,589.00
National Insurance£635.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,524.20
What £300.00 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: £15,515 vs £20,515
£15,515
- Gross Pay£15,515.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,690.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,224.20
- Effective Tax Rate5.3%
£20,515
- Gross Pay£20,515.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,290.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,524.20
- Effective Tax Rate10.8%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.