Updated for 2025/26
£15,530 vs £20,480 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,530 salary against £20,480. 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
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £15,530 | £20,480 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,530 | £20,480 | £4,950 |
| Income Tax | £592 | £1,582 | £990 |
| National Insurance | £237 | £633 | £396 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,701 | £18,265 | £3,564 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,225 | £1,522 | £297 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.3% | 10.8% | 5.5% |
£15,530
Gross£15,530
Take-Home£14,701
You Keep94.7%
£20,480
Gross£20,480
Take-Home£18,265
You Keep89.2%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,530
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£592.00
National Insurance£236.80
Take Home (Monthly)£1,225.10
£20,480
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,582.00
National Insurance£632.80
Take Home (Monthly)£1,522.10
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: £15,530 vs £20,480
£15,530
- Gross Pay£15,530.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,701.20
- Take Home (Month)£1,225.10
- Effective Tax Rate5.3%
£20,480
- Gross Pay£20,480.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,265.20
- Take Home (Month)£1,522.10
- Effective Tax Rate10.8%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,564 per year, which works out to £297.00 per month.