Updated for 2025/26
£15,885 vs £20,340 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,885 salary against £20,340. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,455
per year
Take Home Extra
+£267.30
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£16,038
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 | £15,885 | £20,340 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,885 | £20,340 | £4,455 |
| Income Tax | £663 | £1,554 | £891 |
| National Insurance | £265 | £622 | £356 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,957 | £18,164 | £3,208 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,246 | £1,514 | £267 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.8% | 10.7% | 4.9% |
£15,885
Gross£15,885
Take-Home£14,957
You Keep94.2%
£20,340
Gross£20,340
Take-Home£18,164
You Keep89.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,885
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£663.00
National Insurance£265.20
Take Home (Monthly)£1,246.40
£20,340
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,554.00
National Insurance£621.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,513.70
What £267.30 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: £15,885 vs £20,340
£15,885
- Gross Pay£15,885.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,956.80
- Take Home (Month)£1,246.40
- Effective Tax Rate5.8%
£20,340
- Gross Pay£20,340.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,164.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,513.70
- Effective Tax Rate10.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,208 per year, which works out to £267.30 per month.