Updated for 2025/26
£18,138 vs £25,428 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,138 salary against £25,428. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£7,290
per year
Take Home Extra
+£437.40
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£26,244
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 | £18,138 | £25,428 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,138 | £25,428 | £7,290 |
| Income Tax | £1,114 | £2,572 | £1,458 |
| National Insurance | £445 | £1,029 | £583 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,579 | £21,828 | £5,249 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,382 | £1,819 | £437 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.6% | 14.2% | 5.6% |
£18,138
Gross£18,138
Take-Home£16,579
You Keep91.4%
£25,428
Gross£25,428
Take-Home£21,828
You Keep85.8%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,138
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,113.60
National Insurance£445.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,381.58
£25,428
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,571.60
National Insurance£1,028.64
Take Home (Monthly)£1,818.98
What £437.40 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
£5,248.80/year extra into savings or investments
Full Comparison: £18,138 vs £25,428
£18,138
- Gross Pay£18,138.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,578.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,381.58
- Effective Tax Rate8.6%
£25,428
- Gross Pay£25,428.00
- Take Home (Year)£21,827.76
- Take Home (Month)£1,818.98
- Effective Tax Rate14.2%
The difference in take-home pay is £5,249 per year, which works out to £437.40 per month.