Updated for 2025/26
£15,851 vs £21,901 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,851 salary against £21,901. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£6,050
per year
Take Home Extra
+£363.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£21,780
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 | £15,851 | £21,901 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,851 | £21,901 | £6,050 |
| Income Tax | £656 | £1,866 | £1,210 |
| National Insurance | £262 | £746 | £484 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,932 | £19,288 | £4,356 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,244 | £1,607 | £363 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.8% | 11.9% | 6.1% |
£15,851
Gross£15,851
Take-Home£14,932
You Keep94.2%
£21,901
Gross£21,901
Take-Home£19,288
You Keep88.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,851
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£656.20
National Insurance£262.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,244.36
£21,901
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,866.20
National Insurance£746.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,607.36
What £363.00 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: £15,851 vs £21,901
£15,851
- Gross Pay£15,851.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,932.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,244.36
- Effective Tax Rate5.8%
£21,901
- Gross Pay£21,901.00
- Take Home (Year)£19,288.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,607.36
- Effective Tax Rate11.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £4,356 per year, which works out to £363.00 per month.