Updated for 2025/26
£20,720 vs £25,220 Salary Comparison
Compare a £20,720 salary against £25,220. 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
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £20,720 | £25,220 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £20,720 | £25,220 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £1,630 | £2,530 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £652 | £1,012 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £18,438 | £21,678 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,537 | £1,807 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.0% | 14.0% | 3.0% |
£20,720
Gross£20,720
Take-Home£18,438
You Keep89.0%
£25,220
Gross£25,220
Take-Home£21,678
You Keep86.0%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£20,720
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,630.00
National Insurance£652.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,536.50
£25,220
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,530.00
National Insurance£1,012.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,806.50
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: £20,720 vs £25,220
£20,720
- Gross Pay£20,720.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,438.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,536.50
- Effective Tax Rate11.0%
£25,220
- Gross Pay£25,220.00
- Take Home (Year)£21,678.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,806.50
- Effective Tax Rate14.0%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.