Updated for 2025/26
£18,000 vs £37,500 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,000 salary against £37,500. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£19,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,170.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£70,200
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 | £18,000 | £37,500 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,000 | £37,500 | £19,500 |
| Income Tax | £1,086 | £4,986 | £3,900 |
| National Insurance | £434 | £1,994 | £1,560 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,480 | £30,520 | £14,040 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,373 | £2,543 | £1,170 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.4% | 18.6% | 10.2% |
£18,000
Gross£18,000
Take-Home£16,480
You Keep91.6%
£37,500
Gross£37,500
Take-Home£30,520
You Keep81.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,086.00
National Insurance£434.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,373.30
£37,500
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£4,986.00
National Insurance£1,994.40
Take Home (Monthly)£2,543.30
What £1,170.00 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
Savings Boost
£14,040.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £18,000 vs £37,500
£18,000
- Gross Pay£18,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,479.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,373.30
- Effective Tax Rate8.4%
£37,500
- Gross Pay£37,500.00
- Take Home (Year)£30,519.60
- Take Home (Month)£2,543.30
- Effective Tax Rate18.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £14,040 per year, which works out to £1,170.00 per month.