Updated for 2025/26
£16,002 vs £25,952 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,002 salary against £25,952. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£9,950
per year
Take Home Extra
+£597.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£35,820
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 | £16,002 | £25,952 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,002 | £25,952 | £9,950 |
| Income Tax | £686 | £2,676 | £1,990 |
| National Insurance | £275 | £1,071 | £796 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,041 | £22,205 | £7,164 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,253 | £1,850 | £597 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.0% | 14.4% | 8.4% |
£16,002
Gross£16,002
Take-Home£15,041
You Keep94.0%
£25,952
Gross£25,952
Take-Home£22,205
You Keep85.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,002
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£686.40
National Insurance£274.56
Take Home (Monthly)£1,253.42
£25,952
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,676.40
National Insurance£1,070.56
Take Home (Monthly)£1,850.42
What £597.00 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
£7,164.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £16,002 vs £25,952
£16,002
- Gross Pay£16,002.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,041.04
- Take Home (Month)£1,253.42
- Effective Tax Rate6.0%
£25,952
- Gross Pay£25,952.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,205.04
- Take Home (Month)£1,850.42
- Effective Tax Rate14.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,164 per year, which works out to £597.00 per month.