Updated for 2025/26
£13,221 vs £18,221 Salary Comparison
Compare a £13,221 salary against £18,221. 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 | £13,221 | £18,221 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £13,221 | £18,221 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £130 | £1,130 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £52 | £452 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £13,039 | £16,639 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,087 | £1,387 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 1.4% | 8.7% | 7.3% |
£13,221
Gross£13,221
Take-Home£13,039
You Keep98.6%
£18,221
Gross£18,221
Take-Home£16,639
You Keep91.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£13,221
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£130.20
National Insurance£52.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,086.56
£18,221
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,130.20
National Insurance£452.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,386.56
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: £13,221 vs £18,221
£13,221
- Gross Pay£13,221.00
- Take Home (Year)£13,038.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,086.56
- Effective Tax Rate1.4%
£18,221
- Gross Pay£18,221.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,638.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,386.56
- Effective Tax Rate8.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.