Updated for 2025/26
£18,324 vs £26,469 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,324 salary against £26,469. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£8,145
per year
Take Home Extra
+£488.70
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£29,322
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 | £18,324 | £26,469 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,324 | £26,469 | £8,145 |
| Income Tax | £1,151 | £2,780 | £1,629 |
| National Insurance | £460 | £1,112 | £652 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,713 | £22,577 | £5,864 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,393 | £1,881 | £489 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.8% | 14.7% | 5.9% |
£18,324
Gross£18,324
Take-Home£16,713
You Keep91.2%
£26,469
Gross£26,469
Take-Home£22,577
You Keep85.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,324
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,150.80
National Insurance£460.32
Take Home (Monthly)£1,392.74
£26,469
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,779.80
National Insurance£1,111.92
Take Home (Monthly)£1,881.44
What £488.70 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
£5,864.40/year extra into savings or investments
Full Comparison: £18,324 vs £26,469
£18,324
- Gross Pay£18,324.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,712.88
- Take Home (Month)£1,392.74
- Effective Tax Rate8.8%
£26,469
- Gross Pay£26,469.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,577.28
- Take Home (Month)£1,881.44
- Effective Tax Rate14.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £5,864 per year, which works out to £488.70 per month.