Updated for 2025/26
£16,004 vs £20,904 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,004 salary against £20,904. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,900
per year
Take Home Extra
+£294.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£17,640
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 | £16,004 | £20,904 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,004 | £20,904 | £4,900 |
| Income Tax | £687 | £1,667 | £980 |
| National Insurance | £275 | £667 | £392 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,042 | £18,570 | £3,528 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,254 | £1,548 | £294 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.0% | 11.2% | 5.2% |
£16,004
Gross£16,004
Take-Home£15,042
You Keep94.0%
£20,904
Gross£20,904
Take-Home£18,570
You Keep88.8%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,004
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£686.80
National Insurance£274.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,253.54
£20,904
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,666.80
National Insurance£666.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,547.54
What £294.00 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: £16,004 vs £20,904
£16,004
- Gross Pay£16,004.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,042.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,253.54
- Effective Tax Rate6.0%
£20,904
- Gross Pay£20,904.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,570.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,547.54
- Effective Tax Rate11.2%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,528 per year, which works out to £294.00 per month.