Updated for 2025/26
£13,500 vs £18,000 Salary Comparison
Compare a £13,500 salary against £18,000. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£270.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£16,200
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 | £13,500 | £18,000 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £13,500 | £18,000 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £186 | £1,086 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £74 | £434 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £13,240 | £16,480 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,103 | £1,373 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 1.9% | 8.4% | 6.5% |
£13,500
Gross£13,500
Take-Home£13,240
You Keep98.1%
£18,000
Gross£18,000
Take-Home£16,480
You Keep91.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£13,500
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£186.00
National Insurance£74.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,103.30
£18,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,086.00
National Insurance£434.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,373.30
What £270.00 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: £13,500 vs £18,000
£13,500
- Gross Pay£13,500.00
- Take Home (Year)£13,239.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,103.30
- Effective Tax Rate1.9%
£18,000
- Gross Pay£18,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,479.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,373.30
- Effective Tax Rate8.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.