Updated for 2025/26
£21,609 vs £26,109 Salary Comparison
Compare a £21,609 salary against £26,109. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£270.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£16,200
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 | £21,609 | £26,109 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £21,609 | £26,109 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £1,808 | £2,708 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £723 | £1,083 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £19,078 | £22,318 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,590 | £1,860 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.7% | 14.5% | 2.8% |
£21,609
Gross£21,609
Take-Home£19,078
You Keep88.3%
£26,109
Gross£26,109
Take-Home£22,318
You Keep85.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£21,609
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,807.80
National Insurance£723.12
Take Home (Monthly)£1,589.84
£26,109
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,707.80
National Insurance£1,083.12
Take Home (Monthly)£1,859.84
What £270.00 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: £21,609 vs £26,109
£21,609
- Gross Pay£21,609.00
- Take Home (Year)£19,078.08
- Take Home (Month)£1,589.84
- Effective Tax Rate11.7%
£26,109
- Gross Pay£26,109.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,318.08
- Take Home (Month)£1,859.84
- Effective Tax Rate14.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.