Updated for 2025/26
£16,311 vs £21,261 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,311 salary against £21,261. 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
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £16,311 | £21,261 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,311 | £21,261 | £4,950 |
| Income Tax | £748 | £1,738 | £990 |
| National Insurance | £299 | £695 | £396 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,264 | £18,828 | £3,564 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,272 | £1,569 | £297 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.4% | 11.4% | 5.0% |
£16,311
Gross£16,311
Take-Home£15,264
You Keep93.6%
£21,261
Gross£21,261
Take-Home£18,828
You Keep88.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,311
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£748.20
National Insurance£299.28
Take Home (Monthly)£1,271.96
£21,261
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,738.20
National Insurance£695.28
Take Home (Monthly)£1,568.96
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: £16,311 vs £21,261
£16,311
- Gross Pay£16,311.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,263.52
- Take Home (Month)£1,271.96
- Effective Tax Rate6.4%
£21,261
- Gross Pay£21,261.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,827.52
- Take Home (Month)£1,568.96
- Effective Tax Rate11.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,564 per year, which works out to £297.00 per month.