Updated for 2025/26
£21,015 vs £25,515 Salary Comparison
Compare a £21,015 salary against £25,515. 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 | £21,015 | £25,515 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £21,015 | £25,515 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £1,689 | £2,589 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £676 | £1,036 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £18,650 | £21,890 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,554 | £1,824 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.3% | 14.2% | 3.0% |
£21,015
Gross£21,015
Take-Home£18,650
You Keep88.7%
£25,515
Gross£25,515
Take-Home£21,890
You Keep85.8%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£21,015
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,689.00
National Insurance£675.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,554.20
£25,515
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,589.00
National Insurance£1,035.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,824.20
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: £21,015 vs £25,515
£21,015
- Gross Pay£21,015.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,650.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,554.20
- Effective Tax Rate11.3%
£25,515
- Gross Pay£25,515.00
- Take Home (Year)£21,890.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,824.20
- Effective Tax Rate14.2%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.