Updated for 2025/26
£17,029 vs £21,079 Salary Comparison
Compare a £17,029 salary against £21,079. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,050
per year
Take Home Extra
+£243.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£14,580
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 | £17,029 | £21,079 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £17,029 | £21,079 | £4,050 |
| Income Tax | £892 | £1,702 | £810 |
| National Insurance | £357 | £681 | £324 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £15,780 | £18,696 | £2,916 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,315 | £1,558 | £243 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 7.3% | 11.3% | 4.0% |
£17,029
Gross£17,029
Take-Home£15,780
You Keep92.7%
£21,079
Gross£21,079
Take-Home£18,696
You Keep88.7%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£17,029
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£891.80
National Insurance£356.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,315.04
£21,079
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,701.80
National Insurance£680.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,558.04
What £243.00 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: £17,029 vs £21,079
£17,029
- Gross Pay£17,029.00
- Take Home (Year)£15,780.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,315.04
- Effective Tax Rate7.3%
£21,079
- Gross Pay£21,079.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,696.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,558.04
- Effective Tax Rate11.3%
The difference in take-home pay is £2,916 per year, which works out to £243.00 per month.