Updated for 2025/26
£18,342 vs £21,987 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,342 salary against £21,987. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£3,645
per year
Take Home Extra
+£218.70
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£13,122
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 | £18,342 | £21,987 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,342 | £21,987 | £3,645 |
| Income Tax | £1,154 | £1,883 | £729 |
| National Insurance | £462 | £753 | £292 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,726 | £19,350 | £2,624 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,394 | £1,613 | £219 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.8% | 12.0% | 3.2% |
£18,342
Gross£18,342
Take-Home£16,726
You Keep91.2%
£21,987
Gross£21,987
Take-Home£19,350
You Keep88.0%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,342
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,154.40
National Insurance£461.76
Take Home (Monthly)£1,393.82
£21,987
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,883.40
National Insurance£753.36
Take Home (Monthly)£1,612.52
What £218.70 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
Full Comparison: £18,342 vs £21,987
£18,342
- Gross Pay£18,342.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,725.84
- Take Home (Month)£1,393.82
- Effective Tax Rate8.8%
£21,987
- Gross Pay£21,987.00
- Take Home (Year)£19,350.24
- Take Home (Month)£1,612.52
- Effective Tax Rate12.0%
The difference in take-home pay is £2,624 per year, which works out to £218.70 per month.