Updated for 2025/26
£18,842 vs £26,987 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,842 salary against £26,987. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£8,145
per year
Take Home Extra
+£488.70
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£29,322
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 | £18,842 | £26,987 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,842 | £26,987 | £8,145 |
| Income Tax | £1,254 | £2,883 | £1,629 |
| National Insurance | £502 | £1,153 | £652 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £17,086 | £22,950 | £5,864 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,424 | £1,913 | £489 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 9.3% | 15.0% | 5.6% |
£18,842
Gross£18,842
Take-Home£17,086
You Keep90.7%
£26,987
Gross£26,987
Take-Home£22,950
You Keep85.0%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,842
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,254.40
National Insurance£501.76
Take Home (Monthly)£1,423.82
£26,987
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,883.40
National Insurance£1,153.36
Take Home (Monthly)£1,912.52
What £488.70 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
Savings Boost
£5,864.40/year extra into savings or investments
Full Comparison: £18,842 vs £26,987
£18,842
- Gross Pay£18,842.00
- Take Home (Year)£17,085.84
- Take Home (Month)£1,423.82
- Effective Tax Rate9.3%
£26,987
- Gross Pay£26,987.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,950.24
- Take Home (Month)£1,912.52
- Effective Tax Rate15.0%
The difference in take-home pay is £5,864 per year, which works out to £488.70 per month.