Updated for 2025/26
£21,010 vs £30,010 Salary Comparison
Compare a £21,010 salary against £30,010. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£9,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£540.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£32,400
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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £21,010 | £30,010 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £21,010 | £30,010 | £9,000 |
| Income Tax | £1,688 | £3,488 | £1,800 |
| National Insurance | £675 | £1,395 | £720 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £18,647 | £25,127 | £6,480 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,554 | £2,094 | £540 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.2% | 16.3% | 5.0% |
£21,010
Gross£21,010
Take-Home£18,647
You Keep88.8%
£30,010
Gross£30,010
Take-Home£25,127
You Keep83.7%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£21,010
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,688.00
National Insurance£675.20
Take Home (Monthly)£1,553.90
£30,010
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,488.00
National Insurance£1,395.20
Take Home (Monthly)£2,093.90
What £540.00 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
Savings Boost
£6,480.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £21,010 vs £30,010
£21,010
- Gross Pay£21,010.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,646.80
- Take Home (Month)£1,553.90
- Effective Tax Rate11.2%
£30,010
- Gross Pay£30,010.00
- Take Home (Year)£25,126.80
- Take Home (Month)£2,093.90
- Effective Tax Rate16.3%
The difference in take-home pay is £6,480 per year, which works out to £540.00 per month.