Updated for 2025/26
£21,000 vs £26,000 Salary Comparison
Compare a £21,000 salary against £26,000. 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 | £21,000 | £26,000 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £21,000 | £26,000 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £1,686 | £2,686 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £674 | £1,074 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £18,640 | £22,240 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,553 | £1,853 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.2% | 14.5% | 3.2% |
£21,000
Gross£21,000
Take-Home£18,640
You Keep88.8%
£26,000
Gross£26,000
Take-Home£22,240
You Keep85.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£21,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,686.00
National Insurance£674.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,553.30
£26,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,686.00
National Insurance£1,074.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,853.30
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: £21,000 vs £26,000
£21,000
- Gross Pay£21,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,639.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,553.30
- Effective Tax Rate11.2%
£26,000
- Gross Pay£26,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,239.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,853.30
- Effective Tax Rate14.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.