Updated for 2025/26
£16,426 vs £26,085 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,426 salary against £26,085. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£9,659
per year
Take Home Extra
+£579.54
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£34,772
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 | £16,426 | £26,085 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,426 | £26,085 | £9,659 |
| Income Tax | £771 | £2,703 | £1,932 |
| National Insurance | £308 | £1,081 | £773 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,346 | £22,301 | £6,954 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,279 | £1,858 | £580 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.6% | 14.5% | 7.9% |
£16,426
Gross£16,426
Take-Home£15,346
You Keep93.4%
£26,085
Gross£26,085
Take-Home£22,301
You Keep85.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,426
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£771.20
National Insurance£308.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,278.86
£26,085
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,703.00
National Insurance£1,081.20
Take Home (Monthly)£1,858.40
What £579.54 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
£6,954.48/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £16,426 vs £26,085
£16,426
- Gross Pay£16,426.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,346.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,278.86
- Effective Tax Rate6.6%
£26,085
- Gross Pay£26,085.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,300.80
- Take Home (Month)£1,858.40
- Effective Tax Rate14.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £6,954 per year, which works out to £579.54 per month.