Updated for 2025/26
£21,951 vs £26,951 Salary Comparison
Compare a £21,951 salary against £26,951. 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 | £21,951 | £26,951 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £21,951 | £26,951 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £1,876 | £2,876 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £750 | £1,150 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £19,324 | £22,924 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,610 | £1,910 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 12.0% | 14.9% | 3.0% |
£21,951
Gross£21,951
Take-Home£19,324
You Keep88.0%
£26,951
Gross£26,951
Take-Home£22,924
You Keep85.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£21,951
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,876.20
National Insurance£750.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,610.36
£26,951
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,876.20
National Insurance£1,150.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,910.36
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: £21,951 vs £26,951
£21,951
- Gross Pay£21,951.00
- Take Home (Year)£19,324.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,610.36
- Effective Tax Rate12.0%
£26,951
- Gross Pay£26,951.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,924.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,910.36
- Effective Tax Rate14.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.