Updated for 2025/26
£21,990 vs £26,990 Salary Comparison
Compare a £21,990 salary against £26,990. 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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £21,990 | £26,990 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £21,990 | £26,990 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £1,884 | £2,884 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £754 | £1,154 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £19,352 | £22,952 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,613 | £1,913 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 12.0% | 15.0% | 3.0% |
£21,990
Gross£21,990
Take-Home£19,352
You Keep88.0%
£26,990
Gross£26,990
Take-Home£22,952
You Keep85.0%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£21,990
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,884.00
National Insurance£753.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,612.70
£26,990
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,884.00
National Insurance£1,153.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,912.70
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: £21,990 vs £26,990
£21,990
- Gross Pay£21,990.00
- Take Home (Year)£19,352.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,612.70
- Effective Tax Rate12.0%
£26,990
- Gross Pay£26,990.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,952.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,912.70
- Effective Tax Rate15.0%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.