Updated for 2025/26
£18,095 vs £26,740 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,095 salary against £26,740. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£8,645
per year
Take Home Extra
+£518.70
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£31,122
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 | £18,095 | £26,740 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,095 | £26,740 | £8,645 |
| Income Tax | £1,105 | £2,834 | £1,729 |
| National Insurance | £442 | £1,134 | £692 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,548 | £22,772 | £6,224 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,379 | £1,898 | £519 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.5% | 14.8% | 6.3% |
£18,095
Gross£18,095
Take-Home£16,548
You Keep91.5%
£26,740
Gross£26,740
Take-Home£22,772
You Keep85.2%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,095
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,105.00
National Insurance£442.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,379.00
£26,740
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,834.00
National Insurance£1,133.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,897.70
What £518.70 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
£6,224.40/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £18,095 vs £26,740
£18,095
- Gross Pay£18,095.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,548.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,379.00
- Effective Tax Rate8.5%
£26,740
- Gross Pay£26,740.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,772.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,897.70
- Effective Tax Rate14.8%
The difference in take-home pay is £6,224 per year, which works out to £518.70 per month.