Updated for 2025/26
£16,209 vs £26,010 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,209 salary against £26,010. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£9,801
per year
Take Home Extra
+£588.06
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£35,284
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 | £16,209 | £26,010 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,209 | £26,010 | £9,801 |
| Income Tax | £728 | £2,688 | £1,960 |
| National Insurance | £291 | £1,075 | £784 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,190 | £22,247 | £7,057 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,266 | £1,854 | £588 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.3% | 14.5% | 8.2% |
£16,209
Gross£16,209
Take-Home£15,190
You Keep93.7%
£26,010
Gross£26,010
Take-Home£22,247
You Keep85.5%
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
£26,010
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,688.00
National Insurance£1,075.20
Take Home (Monthly)£1,853.90
What £588.06 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
£7,056.72/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £16,209 vs £26,010
£16,209
- Gross Pay£16,209.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,190.08
- Take Home (Month)£1,265.84
- Effective Tax Rate6.3%
£26,010
- Gross Pay£26,010.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,246.80
- Take Home (Month)£1,853.90
- Effective Tax Rate14.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,057 per year, which works out to £588.06 per month.