Updated for 2025/26
£16,850 vs £26,850 Salary Comparison
Compare a £16,850 salary against £26,850. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£10,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£600.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£36,000
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 | £16,850 | £26,850 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £16,850 | £26,850 | £10,000 |
| Income Tax | £856 | £2,856 | £2,000 |
| National Insurance | £342 | £1,142 | £800 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,652 | £22,852 | £7,200 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,304 | £1,904 | £600 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 7.1% | 14.9% | 7.8% |
£16,850
Gross£16,850
Take-Home£15,652
You Keep92.9%
£26,850
Gross£26,850
Take-Home£22,852
You Keep85.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£16,850
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£856.00
National Insurance£342.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,304.30
£26,850
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,856.00
National Insurance£1,142.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,904.30
What £600.00 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
£7,200.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £16,850 vs £26,850
£16,850
- Gross Pay£16,850.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,651.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,304.30
- Effective Tax Rate7.1%
£26,850
- Gross Pay£26,850.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,851.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,904.30
- Effective Tax Rate14.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,200 per year, which works out to £600.00 per month.