Updated for 2025/26
£21,284 vs £31,006 Salary Comparison
Compare a £21,284 salary against £31,006. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£9,722
per year
Take Home Extra
+£583.32
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£34,999
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 | £21,284 | £31,006 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £21,284 | £31,006 | £9,722 |
| Income Tax | £1,743 | £3,687 | £1,944 |
| National Insurance | £697 | £1,475 | £778 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £18,844 | £25,844 | £7,000 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,570 | £2,154 | £583 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.5% | 16.6% | 5.2% |
£21,284
Gross£21,284
Take-Home£18,844
You Keep88.5%
£31,006
Gross£31,006
Take-Home£25,844
You Keep83.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£21,284
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,742.80
National Insurance£697.12
Take Home (Monthly)£1,570.34
£31,006
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,687.20
National Insurance£1,474.88
Take Home (Monthly)£2,153.66
What £583.32 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
Savings Boost
£6,999.84/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £21,284 vs £31,006
£21,284
- Gross Pay£21,284.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,844.08
- Take Home (Month)£1,570.34
- Effective Tax Rate11.5%
£31,006
- Gross Pay£31,006.00
- Take Home (Year)£25,843.92
- Take Home (Month)£2,153.66
- Effective Tax Rate16.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,000 per year, which works out to £583.32 per month.