Updated for 2025/26
£15,989 vs £20,489 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,989 salary against £20,489. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£270.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£16,200
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 | £15,989 | £20,489 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,989 | £20,489 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £684 | £1,584 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £274 | £634 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,032 | £18,272 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,253 | £1,523 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.0% | 10.8% | 4.8% |
£15,989
Gross£15,989
Take-Home£15,032
You Keep94.0%
£20,489
Gross£20,489
Take-Home£18,272
You Keep89.2%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,989
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£683.80
National Insurance£273.52
Take Home (Monthly)£1,252.64
£20,489
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,583.80
National Insurance£633.52
Take Home (Monthly)£1,522.64
What £270.00 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: £15,989 vs £20,489
£15,989
- Gross Pay£15,989.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,031.68
- Take Home (Month)£1,252.64
- Effective Tax Rate6.0%
£20,489
- Gross Pay£20,489.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,271.68
- Take Home (Month)£1,522.64
- Effective Tax Rate10.8%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.