Updated for 2025/26
£15,604 vs £20,604 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,604 salary against £20,604. 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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £15,604 | £20,604 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,604 | £20,604 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £607 | £1,607 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £243 | £643 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,754 | £18,354 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,230 | £1,530 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.4% | 10.9% | 5.5% |
£15,604
Gross£15,604
Take-Home£14,754
You Keep94.6%
£20,604
Gross£20,604
Take-Home£18,354
You Keep89.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,604
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£606.80
National Insurance£242.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,229.54
£20,604
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,606.80
National Insurance£642.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,529.54
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: £15,604 vs £20,604
£15,604
- Gross Pay£15,604.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,754.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,229.54
- Effective Tax Rate5.4%
£20,604
- Gross Pay£20,604.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,354.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,529.54
- Effective Tax Rate10.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.