Updated for 2025/26
£15,626 vs £20,126 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,626 salary against £20,126. 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 | £15,626 | £20,126 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,626 | £20,126 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £611 | £1,511 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £244 | £604 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,770 | £18,010 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,231 | £1,501 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.5% | 10.5% | 5.0% |
£15,626
Gross£15,626
Take-Home£14,770
You Keep94.5%
£20,126
Gross£20,126
Take-Home£18,010
You Keep89.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,626
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£611.20
National Insurance£244.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,230.86
£20,126
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,511.20
National Insurance£604.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,500.86
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: £15,626 vs £20,126
£15,626
- Gross Pay£15,626.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,770.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,230.86
- Effective Tax Rate5.5%
£20,126
- Gross Pay£20,126.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,010.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,500.86
- Effective Tax Rate10.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.