Updated for 2025/26
£15,990 vs £29,949 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,990 salary against £29,949. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£13,959
per year
Take Home Extra
+£837.54
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£50,252
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 | £15,990 | £29,949 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,990 | £29,949 | £13,959 |
| Income Tax | £684 | £3,476 | £2,792 |
| National Insurance | £274 | £1,390 | £1,117 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,032 | £25,083 | £10,050 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,253 | £2,090 | £838 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.0% | 16.2% | 10.3% |
£15,990
Gross£15,990
Take-Home£15,032
You Keep94.0%
£29,949
Gross£29,949
Take-Home£25,083
You Keep83.8%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,990
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£684.00
National Insurance£273.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,252.70
£29,949
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,475.80
National Insurance£1,390.32
Take Home (Monthly)£2,090.24
What £837.54 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
£10,050.48/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,990 vs £29,949
£15,990
- Gross Pay£15,990.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,032.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,252.70
- Effective Tax Rate6.0%
£29,949
- Gross Pay£29,949.00
- Take Home (Year)£25,082.88
- Take Home (Month)£2,090.24
- Effective Tax Rate16.2%
The difference in take-home pay is £10,050 per year, which works out to £837.54 per month.