Updated for 2025/26
£16,740 vs £21,240 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,740 salary against £21,240. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£270.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£16,200
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 | £16,740 | £21,240 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,740 | £21,240 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £834 | £1,734 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £334 | £694 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,572 | £18,812 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,298 | £1,568 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 7.0% | 11.4% | 4.5% |
£16,740
Gross£16,740
Take-Home£15,572
You Keep93.0%
£21,240
Gross£21,240
Take-Home£18,812
You Keep88.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,740
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£834.00
National Insurance£333.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,297.70
£21,240
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,734.00
National Insurance£693.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,567.70
What £270.00 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: £16,740 vs £21,240
£16,740
- Gross Pay£16,740.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,572.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,297.70
- Effective Tax Rate7.0%
£21,240
- Gross Pay£21,240.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,812.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,567.70
- Effective Tax Rate11.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.