Skip to main content

Search Calculators

Search for a calculator to use

Updated for 2025/26

£12,240 vs £17,740 Salary Comparison

Compare a £12,240 salary against £17,740. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£5,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£337.70
per month
You Keep
74%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£20,262
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£12,240£17,740Difference
Gross Salary£12,240£17,740£5,500
Income Tax£0£1,034£1,034
National Insurance£0£414£414
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£12,240
£16,292
£4,052
Take-Home (Monthly)£1,020£1,358£338
Effective Tax Rate0.0%8.2%8.2%

£12,240

Gross£12,240
Take-Home£12,240
You Keep100.0%

£17,740

Gross£17,740
Take-Home£16,292
You Keep91.8%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£12,240

Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,020.00

£17,740

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,034.00
National Insurance£413.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,357.70

Tax Band Change: This salary increase crosses from the Personal Allowance (0%) into the Basic Rate (20%). The portion above £12,570.00 will be taxed at the higher rate.

What £337.70 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: £12,240 vs £17,740

£12,240

  • Gross Pay£12,240.00
  • Take Home (Year)£12,240.00
  • Take Home (Month)£1,020.00
  • Effective Tax Rate0.0%

£17,740

  • Gross Pay£17,740.00
  • Take Home (Year)£16,292.40
  • Take Home (Month)£1,357.70
  • Effective Tax Rate8.2%

The difference in take-home pay is £4,052 per year, which works out to £337.70 per month.