Updated for 2025/26
£18,520 vs £23,520 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,520 salary against £23,520. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£300.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£18,000
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 | £18,520 | £23,520 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,520 | £23,520 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £1,190 | £2,190 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £476 | £876 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,854 | £20,454 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,405 | £1,705 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 9.0% | 13.0% | 4.0% |
£18,520
Gross£18,520
Take-Home£16,854
You Keep91.0%
£23,520
Gross£23,520
Take-Home£20,454
You Keep87.0%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,520
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,190.00
National Insurance£476.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,404.50
£23,520
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,190.00
National Insurance£876.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,704.50
What £300.00 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
Full Comparison: £18,520 vs £23,520
£18,520
- Gross Pay£18,520.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,854.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,404.50
- Effective Tax Rate9.0%
£23,520
- Gross Pay£23,520.00
- Take Home (Year)£20,454.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,704.50
- Effective Tax Rate13.0%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.