Updated for 2025/26
£21,045 vs £26,717 Salary Comparison
Compare a £21,045 salary against £26,717. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,672
per year
Take Home Extra
+£340.32
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£20,419
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 | £21,045 | £26,717 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £21,045 | £26,717 | £5,672 |
| Income Tax | £1,695 | £2,829 | £1,134 |
| National Insurance | £678 | £1,132 | £454 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £18,672 | £22,756 | £4,084 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,556 | £1,896 | £340 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.3% | 14.8% | 3.6% |
£21,045
Gross£21,045
Take-Home£18,672
You Keep88.7%
£26,717
Gross£26,717
Take-Home£22,756
You Keep85.2%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£21,045
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,695.00
National Insurance£678.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,556.00
£26,717
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,829.40
National Insurance£1,131.76
Take Home (Monthly)£1,896.32
What £340.32 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: £21,045 vs £26,717
£21,045
- Gross Pay£21,045.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,672.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,556.00
- Effective Tax Rate11.3%
£26,717
- Gross Pay£26,717.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,755.84
- Take Home (Month)£1,896.32
- Effective Tax Rate14.8%
The difference in take-home pay is £4,084 per year, which works out to £340.32 per month.