Updated for 2025/26
£18,221 vs £31,771 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,221 salary against £31,771. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£13,550
per year
Take Home Extra
+£813.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£48,780
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 | £18,221 | £31,771 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,221 | £31,771 | £13,550 |
| Income Tax | £1,130 | £3,840 | £2,710 |
| National Insurance | £452 | £1,536 | £1,084 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,639 | £26,395 | £9,756 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,387 | £2,200 | £813 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.7% | 16.9% | 8.2% |
£18,221
Gross£18,221
Take-Home£16,639
You Keep91.3%
£31,771
Gross£31,771
Take-Home£26,395
You Keep83.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,221
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,130.20
National Insurance£452.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,386.56
£31,771
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,840.20
National Insurance£1,536.08
Take Home (Monthly)£2,199.56
What £813.00 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
£9,756.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £18,221 vs £31,771
£18,221
- Gross Pay£18,221.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,638.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,386.56
- Effective Tax Rate8.7%
£31,771
- Gross Pay£31,771.00
- Take Home (Year)£26,394.72
- Take Home (Month)£2,199.56
- Effective Tax Rate16.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £9,756 per year, which works out to £813.00 per month.