Updated for 2025/26
£18,985 vs £23,985 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,985 salary against £23,985. 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 | £18,985 | £23,985 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,985 | £23,985 | £5,000 |
| Income Tax | £1,283 | £2,283 | £1,000 |
| National Insurance | £513 | £913 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £17,189 | £20,789 | £3,600 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,432 | £1,732 | £300 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 9.5% | 13.3% | 3.9% |
£18,985
Gross£18,985
Take-Home£17,189
You Keep90.5%
£23,985
Gross£23,985
Take-Home£20,789
You Keep86.7%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,985
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,283.00
National Insurance£513.20
Take Home (Monthly)£1,432.40
£23,985
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,283.00
National Insurance£913.20
Take Home (Monthly)£1,732.40
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: £18,985 vs £23,985
£18,985
- Gross Pay£18,985.00
- Take Home (Year)£17,188.80
- Take Home (Month)£1,432.40
- Effective Tax Rate9.5%
£23,985
- Gross Pay£23,985.00
- Take Home (Year)£20,788.80
- Take Home (Month)£1,732.40
- Effective Tax Rate13.3%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,600 per year, which works out to £300.00 per month.