Updated for 2025/26
£18,270 vs £30,420 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,270 salary against £30,420. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£12,150
per year
Take Home Extra
+£729.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£43,740
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 | £18,270 | £30,420 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,270 | £30,420 | £12,150 |
| Income Tax | £1,140 | £3,570 | £2,430 |
| National Insurance | £456 | £1,428 | £972 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,674 | £25,422 | £8,748 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,390 | £2,119 | £729 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.7% | 16.4% | 7.7% |
£18,270
Gross£18,270
Take-Home£16,674
You Keep91.3%
£30,420
Gross£30,420
Take-Home£25,422
You Keep83.6%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,270
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,140.00
National Insurance£456.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,389.50
£30,420
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,570.00
National Insurance£1,428.00
Take Home (Monthly)£2,118.50
What £729.00 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
£8,748.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £18,270 vs £30,420
£18,270
- Gross Pay£18,270.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,674.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,389.50
- Effective Tax Rate8.7%
£30,420
- Gross Pay£30,420.00
- Take Home (Year)£25,422.00
- Take Home (Month)£2,118.50
- Effective Tax Rate16.4%
The difference in take-home pay is £8,748 per year, which works out to £729.00 per month.