Updated for 2025/26
£18,120 vs £22,170 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,120 salary against £22,170. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,050
per year
Take Home Extra
+£243.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£14,580
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 | £18,120 | £22,170 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,120 | £22,170 | £4,050 |
| Income Tax | £1,110 | £1,920 | £810 |
| National Insurance | £444 | £768 | £324 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,566 | £19,482 | £2,916 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,381 | £1,624 | £243 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.6% | 12.1% | 3.5% |
£18,120
Gross£18,120
Take-Home£16,566
You Keep91.4%
£22,170
Gross£22,170
Take-Home£19,482
You Keep87.9%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,120
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,110.00
National Insurance£444.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,380.50
£22,170
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,920.00
National Insurance£768.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,623.50
What £243.00 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
Full Comparison: £18,120 vs £22,170
£18,120
- Gross Pay£18,120.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,566.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,380.50
- Effective Tax Rate8.6%
£22,170
- Gross Pay£22,170.00
- Take Home (Year)£19,482.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,623.50
- Effective Tax Rate12.1%
The difference in take-home pay is £2,916 per year, which works out to £243.00 per month.