Updated for 2025/26
£16,680 vs £21,680 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,680 salary against £21,680. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£300.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£18,000
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 | £16,680 | £21,680 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,680 | £21,680 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £822 | £1,822 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £329 | £729 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,529 | £19,129 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,294 | £1,594 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 6.9% | 11.8% | 4.9% |
£16,680
Gross£16,680
Take-Home£15,529
You Keep93.1%
£21,680
Gross£21,680
Take-Home£19,129
You Keep88.2%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,680
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£822.00
National Insurance£328.80
Take Home (Monthly)£1,294.10
£21,680
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,822.00
National Insurance£728.80
Take Home (Monthly)£1,594.10
What £300.00 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: £16,680 vs £21,680
£16,680
- Gross Pay£16,680.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,529.20
- Take Home (Month)£1,294.10
- Effective Tax Rate6.9%
£21,680
- Gross Pay£21,680.00
- Take Home (Year)£19,129.20
- Take Home (Month)£1,594.10
- Effective Tax Rate11.8%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.