Updated for 2025/26
£18,088 vs £31,588 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,088 salary against £31,588. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£13,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£810.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£48,600
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 | £18,088 | £31,588 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,088 | £31,588 | £13,500 |
| Income Tax | £1,104 | £3,804 | £2,700 |
| National Insurance | £441 | £1,521 | £1,080 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,543 | £26,263 | £9,720 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,379 | £2,189 | £810 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.5% | 16.9% | 8.3% |
£18,088
Gross£18,088
Take-Home£16,543
You Keep91.5%
£31,588
Gross£31,588
Take-Home£26,263
You Keep83.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,088
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,103.60
National Insurance£441.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,378.58
£31,588
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,803.60
National Insurance£1,521.44
Take Home (Monthly)£2,188.58
What £810.00 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
£9,720.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £18,088 vs £31,588
£18,088
- Gross Pay£18,088.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,542.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,378.58
- Effective Tax Rate8.5%
£31,588
- Gross Pay£31,588.00
- Take Home (Year)£26,262.96
- Take Home (Month)£2,188.58
- Effective Tax Rate16.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £9,720 per year, which works out to £810.00 per month.