Updated for 2025/26
£15,998 vs £25,998 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,998 salary against £25,998. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£10,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£600.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£36,000
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
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £15,998 | £25,998 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,998 | £25,998 | £10,000 |
| Income Tax | £686 | £2,686 | £2,000 |
| National Insurance | £274 | £1,074 | £800 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,038 | £22,238 | £7,200 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,253 | £1,853 | £600 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.0% | 14.5% | 8.5% |
£15,998
Gross£15,998
Take-Home£15,038
You Keep94.0%
£25,998
Gross£25,998
Take-Home£22,238
You Keep85.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,998
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£685.60
National Insurance£274.24
Take Home (Monthly)£1,253.18
£25,998
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,685.60
National Insurance£1,074.24
Take Home (Monthly)£1,853.18
What £600.00 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
£7,200.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £15,998 vs £25,998
£15,998
- Gross Pay£15,998.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,038.16
- Take Home (Month)£1,253.18
- Effective Tax Rate6.0%
£25,998
- Gross Pay£25,998.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,238.16
- Take Home (Month)£1,853.18
- Effective Tax Rate14.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,200 per year, which works out to £600.00 per month.