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Updated for 2025/26

£21,021 vs £29,571 Salary Comparison

Compare a £21,021 salary against £29,571. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£8,550
per year
Take Home Extra
+£513.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£30,780
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£21,021£29,571Difference
Gross Salary£21,021£29,571£8,550
Income Tax£1,690£3,400£1,710
National Insurance£676£1,360£684
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£18,655
£24,811
£6,156
Take-Home (Monthly)£1,555£2,068£513
Effective Tax Rate11.3%16.1%4.8%

£21,021

Gross£21,021
Take-Home£18,655
You Keep88.7%

£29,571

Gross£29,571
Take-Home£24,811
You Keep83.9%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£21,021

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,690.20
National Insurance£676.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,554.56

£29,571

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,400.20
National Insurance£1,360.08
Take Home (Monthly)£2,067.56

What £513.00 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
£6,156.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease

Full Comparison: £21,021 vs £29,571

£21,021

  • Gross Pay£21,021.00
  • Take Home (Year)£18,654.72
  • Take Home (Month)£1,554.56
  • Effective Tax Rate11.3%

£29,571

  • Gross Pay£29,571.00
  • Take Home (Year)£24,810.72
  • Take Home (Month)£2,067.56
  • Effective Tax Rate16.1%

The difference in take-home pay is £6,156 per year, which works out to £513.00 per month.