Updated for 2025/26
£13,742 vs £18,242 Salary Comparison
Compare a £13,742 salary against £18,242. 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 | £13,742 | £18,242 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £13,742 | £18,242 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £234 | £1,134 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £94 | £454 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £13,414 | £16,654 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,118 | £1,388 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 2.4% | 8.7% | 6.3% |
£13,742
Gross£13,742
Take-Home£13,414
You Keep97.6%
£18,242
Gross£18,242
Take-Home£16,654
You Keep91.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£13,742
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£234.40
National Insurance£93.76
Take Home (Monthly)£1,117.82
£18,242
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,134.40
National Insurance£453.76
Take Home (Monthly)£1,387.82
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: £13,742 vs £18,242
£13,742
- Gross Pay£13,742.00
- Take Home (Year)£13,413.84
- Take Home (Month)£1,117.82
- Effective Tax Rate2.4%
£18,242
- Gross Pay£18,242.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,653.84
- Take Home (Month)£1,387.82
- Effective Tax Rate8.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.