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Updated for 2025/26

£12,271 vs £18,176 Salary Comparison

Compare a £12,271 salary against £18,176. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.

Gross Difference
+£5,905
per year
Take Home Extra
+£361.28
per month
You Keep
73%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£21,677
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£12,271£18,176Difference
Gross Salary£12,271£18,176£5,905
Income Tax£0£1,121£1,121
National Insurance£0£448£448
Pension£0£0£0
Take-Home Pay (Yearly)
£12,271
£16,606
£4,335
Take-Home (Monthly)£1,023£1,384£361
Effective Tax Rate0.0%8.6%8.6%

£12,271

Gross£12,271
Take-Home£12,271
You Keep100.0%

£18,176

Gross£18,176
Take-Home£16,606
You Keep91.4%

Tax Band Analysis

Understanding where your money goes

£12,271

Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,022.58

£18,176

Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,121.20
National Insurance£448.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,383.86

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 £361.28 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: £12,271 vs £18,176

£12,271

  • Gross Pay£12,271.00
  • Take Home (Year)£12,271.00
  • Take Home (Month)£1,022.58
  • Effective Tax Rate0.0%

£18,176

  • Gross Pay£18,176.00
  • Take Home (Year)£16,606.32
  • Take Home (Month)£1,383.86
  • Effective Tax Rate8.6%

The difference in take-home pay is £4,335 per year, which works out to £361.28 per month.