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Updated for 2025/26

£21,848 vs £26,348 Salary Comparison

Compare a £21,848 salary against £26,348. 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

£
£

Comparison Results

Metric£21,848£26,348Difference
Gross Salary£21,848£26,348£4,500
Income Tax£1,856£2,756£900
National Insurance£742£1,102£360
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£19,250
£22,490
£3,240
Take-Home (Monthly)£1,604£1,874£270
Effective Tax Rate11.9%14.6%2.8%

£21,848

Gross£21,848
Take-Home£19,250
You Keep88.1%

£26,348

Gross£26,348
Take-Home£22,490
You Keep85.4%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£21,848

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,855.60
National Insurance£742.24
Take Home (Monthly)£1,604.18

£26,348

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,755.60
National Insurance£1,102.24
Take Home (Monthly)£1,874.18

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: £21,848 vs £26,348

£21,848

  • Gross Pay£21,848.00
  • Take Home (Year)£19,250.16
  • Take Home (Month)£1,604.18
  • Effective Tax Rate11.9%

£26,348

  • Gross Pay£26,348.00
  • Take Home (Year)£22,490.16
  • Take Home (Month)£1,874.18
  • Effective Tax Rate14.6%

The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.