Updated for 2025/26
£98,000 vs £118,000 Salary Comparison
Compare a £98,000 salary against £118,000. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£20,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£666.67
per month
You Keep
40%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£40,000
cumulative
Senior Leadership Compensation
At this level, tax efficiency becomes crucial. Between £100,000.00-£125,140.00, you face an effective 60% marginal rate as personal allowance is withdrawn.
- The £100k-£125k "trap" means earning £100k often leaves you with more than £115k
- Employer pension contributions can reduce taxable income below key thresholds
- Consider spreading bonuses across tax years where possible
- Professional tax advice typically pays for itself at this level
Compare Salaries
Enter multiple salaries to compare take-home pay for 2025/26
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £98,000 | £118,000 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £98,000 | £118,000 | £20,000 |
| Income Tax | £26,632 | £38,232 | £11,600 |
| National Insurance | £3,971 | £4,371 | £400 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £67,397 | £75,397 | £8,000 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £5,616 | £6,283 | £667 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 31.2% | 36.1% | 4.9% |
£98,000
Gross£98,000
Take-Home£67,397
You Keep68.8%
£118,000
Gross£118,000
Take-Home£75,397
You Keep63.9%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£98,000
Tax BandHigher Rate
Marginal Rate40%
Income Tax£26,632.00
National Insurance£3,970.60
Take Home (Monthly)£5,616.45
£118,000
Tax BandHigher Rate
Marginal Rate40%
Income Tax£38,232.00
National Insurance£4,370.60
Take Home (Monthly)£6,283.12
What £666.67 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
£8,000.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £98,000 vs £118,000
£98,000
- Gross Pay£98,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£67,397.40
- Take Home (Month)£5,616.45
- Effective Tax Rate31.2%
£118,000
- Gross Pay£118,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£75,397.40
- Take Home (Month)£6,283.12
- Effective Tax Rate36.1%
The difference in take-home pay is £8,000 per year, which works out to £666.67 per month.