Updated for 2025/26
£12,840 vs £18,155 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,840 salary against £18,155. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,315
per year
Take Home Extra
+£318.90
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£19,134
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 | £12,840 | £18,155 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,840 | £18,155 | £5,315 |
| Income Tax | £54 | £1,117 | £1,063 |
| National Insurance | £22 | £447 | £425 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,764 | £16,591 | £3,827 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,064 | £1,383 | £319 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.6% | 8.6% | 8.0% |
£12,840
Gross£12,840
Take-Home£12,764
You Keep99.4%
£18,155
Gross£18,155
Take-Home£16,591
You Keep91.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£12,840
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£54.00
National Insurance£21.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,063.70
£18,155
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,117.00
National Insurance£446.80
Take Home (Monthly)£1,382.60
What £318.90 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: £12,840 vs £18,155
£12,840
- Gross Pay£12,840.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,764.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,063.70
- Effective Tax Rate0.6%
£18,155
- Gross Pay£18,155.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,591.20
- Take Home (Month)£1,382.60
- Effective Tax Rate8.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,827 per year, which works out to £318.90 per month.