Updated for 2025/26
£18,340 vs £26,440 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,340 salary against £26,440. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£8,100
per year
Take Home Extra
+£486.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£29,160
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 | £18,340 | £26,440 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,340 | £26,440 | £8,100 |
| Income Tax | £1,154 | £2,774 | £1,620 |
| National Insurance | £462 | £1,110 | £648 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,724 | £22,556 | £5,832 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,394 | £1,880 | £486 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.8% | 14.7% | 5.9% |
£18,340
Gross£18,340
Take-Home£16,724
You Keep91.2%
£26,440
Gross£26,440
Take-Home£22,556
You Keep85.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,340
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,154.00
National Insurance£461.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,393.70
£26,440
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,774.00
National Insurance£1,109.60
Take Home (Monthly)£1,879.70
What £486.00 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
£5,832.00/year extra into savings or investments
Full Comparison: £18,340 vs £26,440
£18,340
- Gross Pay£18,340.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,724.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,393.70
- Effective Tax Rate8.8%
£26,440
- Gross Pay£26,440.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,556.40
- Take Home (Month)£1,879.70
- Effective Tax Rate14.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £5,832 per year, which works out to £486.00 per month.