Updated for 2025/26
£18,388 vs £21,045 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,388 salary against £21,045. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£2,657
per year
Take Home Extra
+£159.42
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£9,565
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 | £18,388 | £21,045 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,388 | £21,045 | £2,657 |
| Income Tax | £1,164 | £1,695 | £531 |
| National Insurance | £465 | £678 | £213 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,759 | £18,672 | £1,913 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,397 | £1,556 | £159 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.9% | 11.3% | 2.4% |
£18,388
Gross£18,388
Take-Home£16,759
You Keep91.1%
£21,045
Gross£21,045
Take-Home£18,672
You Keep88.7%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,388
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,163.60
National Insurance£465.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,396.58
£21,045
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,695.00
National Insurance£678.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,556.00
What £159.42 Extra Buys You
Real-world value of the take-home difference
Monthly Subscriptions
Netflix, Spotify, gym - £100.00/mo
Full Comparison: £18,388 vs £21,045
£18,388
- Gross Pay£18,388.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,758.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,396.58
- Effective Tax Rate8.9%
£21,045
- Gross Pay£21,045.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,672.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,556.00
- Effective Tax Rate11.3%
The difference in take-home pay is £1,913 per year, which works out to £159.42 per month.