Updated for 2025/26
£16,488 vs £29,988 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,488 salary against £29,988. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£13,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£810.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£48,600
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 | £16,488 | £29,988 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,488 | £29,988 | £13,500 |
| Income Tax | £784 | £3,484 | £2,700 |
| National Insurance | £313 | £1,393 | £1,080 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,391 | £25,111 | £9,720 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,283 | £2,093 | £810 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.7% | 16.3% | 9.6% |
£16,488
Gross£16,488
Take-Home£15,391
You Keep93.3%
£29,988
Gross£29,988
Take-Home£25,111
You Keep83.7%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,488
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£783.60
National Insurance£313.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,282.58
£29,988
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,483.60
National Insurance£1,393.44
Take Home (Monthly)£2,092.58
What £810.00 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
Savings Boost
£9,720.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £16,488 vs £29,988
£16,488
- Gross Pay£16,488.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,390.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,282.58
- Effective Tax Rate6.7%
£29,988
- Gross Pay£29,988.00
- Take Home (Year)£25,110.96
- Take Home (Month)£2,092.58
- Effective Tax Rate16.3%
The difference in take-home pay is £9,720 per year, which works out to £810.00 per month.