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Updated for 2025/26

£15,971 vs £30,971 Salary Comparison

Compare a £15,971 salary against £30,971. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£15,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£900.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£54,000
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

£
£

Comparison Results

Metric£15,971£30,971Difference
Gross Salary£15,971£30,971£15,000
Income Tax£680£3,680£3,000
National Insurance£272£1,472£1,200
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£15,019
£25,819
£10,800
Take-Home (Monthly)£1,252£2,152£900
Effective Tax Rate6.0%16.6%10.7%

£15,971

Gross£15,971
Take-Home£15,019
You Keep94.0%

£30,971

Gross£30,971
Take-Home£25,819
You Keep83.4%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£15,971

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£680.20
National Insurance£272.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,251.56

£30,971

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,680.20
National Insurance£1,472.08
Take Home (Monthly)£2,151.56

What £900.00 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
Savings Boost
£10,800.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease

Full Comparison: £15,971 vs £30,971

£15,971

  • Gross Pay£15,971.00
  • Take Home (Year)£15,018.72
  • Take Home (Month)£1,251.56
  • Effective Tax Rate6.0%

£30,971

  • Gross Pay£30,971.00
  • Take Home (Year)£25,818.72
  • Take Home (Month)£2,151.56
  • Effective Tax Rate16.6%

The difference in take-home pay is £10,800 per year, which works out to £900.00 per month.