Updated for 2025/26
£15,740 vs £20,740 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,740 salary against £20,740. 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 | £15,740 | £20,740 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,740 | £20,740 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £634 | £1,634 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £254 | £654 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,852 | £18,452 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,238 | £1,538 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.6% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
£15,740
Gross£15,740
Take-Home£14,852
You Keep94.4%
£20,740
Gross£20,740
Take-Home£18,452
You Keep89.0%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,740
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£634.00
National Insurance£253.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,237.70
£20,740
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,634.00
National Insurance£653.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,537.70
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: £15,740 vs £20,740
£15,740
- Gross Pay£15,740.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,852.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,237.70
- Effective Tax Rate5.6%
£20,740
- Gross Pay£20,740.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,452.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,537.70
- Effective Tax Rate11.0%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.