Updated for 2025/26
£18,218 vs £23,218 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,218 salary against £23,218. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£300.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£18,000
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 | £18,218 | £23,218 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,218 | £23,218 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £1,130 | £2,130 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £452 | £852 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,637 | £20,237 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,386 | £1,686 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.7% | 12.8% | 4.2% |
£18,218
Gross£18,218
Take-Home£16,637
You Keep91.3%
£23,218
Gross£23,218
Take-Home£20,237
You Keep87.2%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,218
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,129.60
National Insurance£451.84
Take Home (Monthly)£1,386.38
£23,218
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,129.60
National Insurance£851.84
Take Home (Monthly)£1,686.38
What £300.00 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: £18,218 vs £23,218
£18,218
- Gross Pay£18,218.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,636.56
- Take Home (Month)£1,386.38
- Effective Tax Rate8.7%
£23,218
- Gross Pay£23,218.00
- Take Home (Year)£20,236.56
- Take Home (Month)£1,686.38
- Effective Tax Rate12.8%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.