Updated for 2025/26
£20,901 vs £25,901 Salary Comparison
Compare a £20,901 salary against £25,901. 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
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £20,901 | £25,901 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £20,901 | £25,901 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £1,666 | £2,666 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £666 | £1,066 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £18,568 | £22,168 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,547 | £1,847 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.2% | 14.4% | 3.3% |
£20,901
Gross£20,901
Take-Home£18,568
You Keep88.8%
£25,901
Gross£25,901
Take-Home£22,168
You Keep85.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£20,901
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,666.20
National Insurance£666.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,547.36
£25,901
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,666.20
National Insurance£1,066.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,847.36
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: £20,901 vs £25,901
£20,901
- Gross Pay£20,901.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,568.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,547.36
- Effective Tax Rate11.2%
£25,901
- Gross Pay£25,901.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,168.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,847.36
- Effective Tax Rate14.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.