Updated for 2025/26
£20,902 vs £26,246 Salary Comparison
Compare a £20,902 salary against £26,246. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,344
per year
Take Home Extra
+£320.64
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£19,238
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 | £20,902 | £26,246 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £20,902 | £26,246 | £5,344 |
| Income Tax | £1,666 | £2,735 | £1,069 |
| National Insurance | £667 | £1,094 | £428 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £18,569 | £22,417 | £3,848 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,547 | £1,868 | £321 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.2% | 14.6% | 3.4% |
£20,902
Gross£20,902
Take-Home£18,569
You Keep88.8%
£26,246
Gross£26,246
Take-Home£22,417
You Keep85.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£20,902
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,666.40
National Insurance£666.56
Take Home (Monthly)£1,547.42
£26,246
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,735.20
National Insurance£1,094.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,868.06
What £320.64 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: £20,902 vs £26,246
£20,902
- Gross Pay£20,902.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,569.04
- Take Home (Month)£1,547.42
- Effective Tax Rate11.2%
£26,246
- Gross Pay£26,246.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,416.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,868.06
- Effective Tax Rate14.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,848 per year, which works out to £320.64 per month.