Updated for 2025/26
£15,891 vs £21,820 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,891 salary against £21,820. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,929
per year
Take Home Extra
+£355.74
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£21,344
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 | £15,891 | £21,820 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,891 | £21,820 | £5,929 |
| Income Tax | £664 | £1,850 | £1,186 |
| National Insurance | £266 | £740 | £474 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,961 | £19,230 | £4,269 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,247 | £1,603 | £356 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.9% | 11.9% | 6.0% |
£15,891
Gross£15,891
Take-Home£14,961
You Keep94.1%
£21,820
Gross£21,820
Take-Home£19,230
You Keep88.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,891
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£664.20
National Insurance£265.68
Take Home (Monthly)£1,246.76
£21,820
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,850.00
National Insurance£740.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,602.50
What £355.74 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: £15,891 vs £21,820
£15,891
- Gross Pay£15,891.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,961.12
- Take Home (Month)£1,246.76
- Effective Tax Rate5.9%
£21,820
- Gross Pay£21,820.00
- Take Home (Year)£19,230.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,602.50
- Effective Tax Rate11.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £4,269 per year, which works out to £355.74 per month.