Updated for 2025/26
£21,502 vs £26,502 Salary Comparison
Compare a £21,502 salary against £26,502. 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 | £21,502 | £26,502 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £21,502 | £26,502 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £1,786 | £2,786 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £715 | £1,115 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £19,001 | £22,601 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,583 | £1,883 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.6% | 14.7% | 3.1% |
£21,502
Gross£21,502
Take-Home£19,001
You Keep88.4%
£26,502
Gross£26,502
Take-Home£22,601
You Keep85.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£21,502
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,786.40
National Insurance£714.56
Take Home (Monthly)£1,583.42
£26,502
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,786.40
National Insurance£1,114.56
Take Home (Monthly)£1,883.42
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: £21,502 vs £26,502
£21,502
- Gross Pay£21,502.00
- Take Home (Year)£19,001.04
- Take Home (Month)£1,583.42
- Effective Tax Rate11.6%
£26,502
- Gross Pay£26,502.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,601.04
- Take Home (Month)£1,883.42
- Effective Tax Rate14.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.