Updated for 2025/26
£18,004 vs £21,284 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,004 salary against £21,284. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£3,280
per year
Take Home Extra
+£196.80
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£11,808
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 | £18,004 | £21,284 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,004 | £21,284 | £3,280 |
| Income Tax | £1,087 | £1,743 | £656 |
| National Insurance | £435 | £697 | £262 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,482 | £18,844 | £2,362 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,374 | £1,570 | £197 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.5% | 11.5% | 3.0% |
£18,004
Gross£18,004
Take-Home£16,482
You Keep91.5%
£21,284
Gross£21,284
Take-Home£18,844
You Keep88.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,004
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,086.80
National Insurance£434.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,373.54
£21,284
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,742.80
National Insurance£697.12
Take Home (Monthly)£1,570.34
What £196.80 Extra Buys You
Real-world value of the take-home difference
Monthly Subscriptions
Netflix, Spotify, gym - £100.00/mo
Full Comparison: £18,004 vs £21,284
£18,004
- Gross Pay£18,004.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,482.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,373.54
- Effective Tax Rate8.5%
£21,284
- Gross Pay£21,284.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,844.08
- Take Home (Month)£1,570.34
- Effective Tax Rate11.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £2,362 per year, which works out to £196.80 per month.