Updated for 2025/26
£21,721 vs £25,771 Salary Comparison
Compare a £21,721 salary against £25,771. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,050
per year
Take Home Extra
+£243.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£14,580
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 | £21,721 | £25,771 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £21,721 | £25,771 | £4,050 |
| Income Tax | £1,830 | £2,640 | £810 |
| National Insurance | £732 | £1,056 | £324 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £19,159 | £22,075 | £2,916 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,597 | £1,840 | £243 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 11.8% | 14.3% | 2.5% |
£21,721
Gross£21,721
Take-Home£19,159
You Keep88.2%
£25,771
Gross£25,771
Take-Home£22,075
You Keep85.7%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£21,721
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,830.20
National Insurance£732.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,596.56
£25,771
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,640.20
National Insurance£1,056.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,839.56
What £243.00 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: £21,721 vs £25,771
£21,721
- Gross Pay£21,721.00
- Take Home (Year)£19,158.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,596.56
- Effective Tax Rate11.8%
£25,771
- Gross Pay£25,771.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,074.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,839.56
- Effective Tax Rate14.3%
The difference in take-home pay is £2,916 per year, which works out to £243.00 per month.