Updated for 2025/26
£18,068 vs £20,726 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,068 salary against £20,726. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£2,658
per year
Take Home Extra
+£159.48
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£9,569
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 | £18,068 | £20,726 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,068 | £20,726 | £2,658 |
| Income Tax | £1,100 | £1,631 | £532 |
| National Insurance | £440 | £652 | £213 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,529 | £18,442 | £1,914 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,377 | £1,537 | £159 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.5% | 11.0% | 2.5% |
£18,068
Gross£18,068
Take-Home£16,529
You Keep91.5%
£20,726
Gross£20,726
Take-Home£18,442
You Keep89.0%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,068
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,099.60
National Insurance£439.84
Take Home (Monthly)£1,377.38
£20,726
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,631.20
National Insurance£652.48
Take Home (Monthly)£1,536.86
What £159.48 Extra Buys You
Real-world value of the take-home difference
Monthly Subscriptions
Netflix, Spotify, gym - £100.00/mo
Full Comparison: £18,068 vs £20,726
£18,068
- Gross Pay£18,068.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,528.56
- Take Home (Month)£1,377.38
- Effective Tax Rate8.5%
£20,726
- Gross Pay£20,726.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,442.32
- Take Home (Month)£1,536.86
- Effective Tax Rate11.0%
The difference in take-home pay is £1,914 per year, which works out to £159.48 per month.