Updated for 2025/26
£16,209 vs £21,159 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,209 salary against £21,159. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,950
per year
Take Home Extra
+£297.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£17,820
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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £16,209 | £21,159 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,209 | £21,159 | £4,950 |
| Income Tax | £728 | £1,718 | £990 |
| National Insurance | £291 | £687 | £396 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,190 | £18,754 | £3,564 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,266 | £1,563 | £297 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.3% | 11.4% | 5.1% |
£16,209
Gross£16,209
Take-Home£15,190
You Keep93.7%
£21,159
Gross£21,159
Take-Home£18,754
You Keep88.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,209
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£727.80
National Insurance£291.12
Take Home (Monthly)£1,265.84
£21,159
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,717.80
National Insurance£687.12
Take Home (Monthly)£1,562.84
What £297.00 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: £16,209 vs £21,159
£16,209
- Gross Pay£16,209.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,190.08
- Take Home (Month)£1,265.84
- Effective Tax Rate6.3%
£21,159
- Gross Pay£21,159.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,754.08
- Take Home (Month)£1,562.84
- Effective Tax Rate11.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,564 per year, which works out to £297.00 per month.