Updated for 2025/26
£21,142 vs £26,142 Salary Comparison
Compare a £21,142 salary against £26,142. 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 | £21,142 | £26,142 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £21,142 | £26,142 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £1,714 | £2,714 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £686 | £1,086 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £18,742 | £22,342 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,562 | £1,862 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.4% | 14.5% | 3.2% |
£21,142
Gross£21,142
Take-Home£18,742
You Keep88.6%
£26,142
Gross£26,142
Take-Home£22,342
You Keep85.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£21,142
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,714.40
National Insurance£685.76
Take Home (Monthly)£1,561.82
£26,142
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,714.40
National Insurance£1,085.76
Take Home (Monthly)£1,861.82
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: £21,142 vs £26,142
£21,142
- Gross Pay£21,142.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,741.84
- Take Home (Month)£1,561.82
- Effective Tax Rate11.4%
£26,142
- Gross Pay£26,142.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,341.84
- Take Home (Month)£1,861.82
- Effective Tax Rate14.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.