Updated for 2025/26
£18,731 vs £26,831 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,731 salary against £26,831. 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
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £18,731 | £26,831 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,731 | £26,831 | £8,100 |
| Income Tax | £1,232 | £2,852 | £1,620 |
| National Insurance | £493 | £1,141 | £648 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £17,006 | £22,838 | £5,832 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,417 | £1,903 | £486 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 9.2% | 14.9% | 5.7% |
£18,731
Gross£18,731
Take-Home£17,006
You Keep90.8%
£26,831
Gross£26,831
Take-Home£22,838
You Keep85.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,731
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,232.20
National Insurance£492.88
Take Home (Monthly)£1,417.16
£26,831
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,852.20
National Insurance£1,140.88
Take Home (Monthly)£1,903.16
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: £18,731 vs £26,831
£18,731
- Gross Pay£18,731.00
- Take Home (Year)£17,005.92
- Take Home (Month)£1,417.16
- Effective Tax Rate9.2%
£26,831
- Gross Pay£26,831.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,837.92
- Take Home (Month)£1,903.16
- Effective Tax Rate14.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £5,832 per year, which works out to £486.00 per month.