Updated for 2025/26
£18,006 vs £28,941 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,006 salary against £28,941. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£10,935
per year
Take Home Extra
+£656.10
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£39,366
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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £18,006 | £28,941 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,006 | £28,941 | £10,935 |
| Income Tax | £1,087 | £3,274 | £2,187 |
| National Insurance | £435 | £1,310 | £875 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,484 | £24,357 | £7,873 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,374 | £2,030 | £656 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.5% | 15.8% | 7.4% |
£18,006
Gross£18,006
Take-Home£16,484
You Keep91.5%
£28,941
Gross£28,941
Take-Home£24,357
You Keep84.2%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,006
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,087.20
National Insurance£434.88
Take Home (Monthly)£1,373.66
£28,941
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,274.20
National Insurance£1,309.68
Take Home (Monthly)£2,029.76
What £656.10 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
£7,873.20/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £18,006 vs £28,941
£18,006
- Gross Pay£18,006.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,483.92
- Take Home (Month)£1,373.66
- Effective Tax Rate8.5%
£28,941
- Gross Pay£28,941.00
- Take Home (Year)£24,357.12
- Take Home (Month)£2,029.76
- Effective Tax Rate15.8%
The difference in take-home pay is £7,873 per year, which works out to £656.10 per month.