Updated for 2025/26
£12,521 vs £18,021 Salary Comparison
Compare a £12,521 salary against £18,021. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£331.14
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£19,869
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 | £12,521 | £18,021 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £12,521 | £18,021 | £5,500 |
| Income Tax | £0 | £1,090 | £1,090 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £436 | £436 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £12,521 | £16,495 | £3,974 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,043 | £1,375 | £331 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.0% | 8.5% | 8.5% |
£12,521
Gross£12,521
Take-Home£12,521
You Keep100.0%
£18,021
Gross£18,021
Take-Home£16,495
You Keep91.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£12,521
Tax BandPersonal Allowance
Marginal Rate0%
Income Tax£0.00
National Insurance£0.00
Take Home (Monthly)£1,043.42
£18,021
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,090.20
National Insurance£436.08
Take Home (Monthly)£1,374.56
Tax Band Change: This salary increase crosses from the Personal Allowance (0%) into the Basic Rate (20%). The portion above £12,570.00 will be taxed at the higher rate.
What £331.14 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: £12,521 vs £18,021
£12,521
- Gross Pay£12,521.00
- Take Home (Year)£12,521.00
- Take Home (Month)£1,043.42
- Effective Tax Rate0.0%
£18,021
- Gross Pay£18,021.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,494.72
- Take Home (Month)£1,374.56
- Effective Tax Rate8.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,974 per year, which works out to £331.14 per month.