Updated for 2025/26
£21,044 vs £26,044 Salary Comparison
Compare a £21,044 salary against £26,044. 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 | £21,044 | £26,044 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £21,044 | £26,044 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £1,695 | £2,695 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £678 | £1,078 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £18,671 | £22,271 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,556 | £1,856 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.3% | 14.5% | 3.2% |
£21,044
Gross£21,044
Take-Home£18,671
You Keep88.7%
£26,044
Gross£26,044
Take-Home£22,271
You Keep85.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£21,044
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,694.80
National Insurance£677.92
Take Home (Monthly)£1,555.94
£26,044
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,694.80
National Insurance£1,077.92
Take Home (Monthly)£1,855.94
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: £21,044 vs £26,044
£21,044
- Gross Pay£21,044.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,671.28
- Take Home (Month)£1,555.94
- Effective Tax Rate11.3%
£26,044
- Gross Pay£26,044.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,271.28
- Take Home (Month)£1,855.94
- Effective Tax Rate14.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.