Updated for 2025/26
£15,278 vs £18,462 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,278 salary against £18,462. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£3,184
per year
Take Home Extra
+£191.04
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£11,462
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 | £15,278 | £18,462 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,278 | £18,462 | £3,184 |
| Income Tax | £542 | £1,178 | £637 |
| National Insurance | £217 | £471 | £255 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,520 | £16,812 | £2,292 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,210 | £1,401 | £191 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.0% | 8.9% | 4.0% |
£15,278
Gross£15,278
Take-Home£14,520
You Keep95.0%
£18,462
Gross£18,462
Take-Home£16,812
You Keep91.1%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,278
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£541.60
National Insurance£216.64
Take Home (Monthly)£1,209.98
£18,462
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,178.40
National Insurance£471.36
Take Home (Monthly)£1,401.02
What £191.04 Extra Buys You
Real-world value of the take-home difference
Monthly Subscriptions
Netflix, Spotify, gym - £100.00/mo
Full Comparison: £15,278 vs £18,462
£15,278
- Gross Pay£15,278.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,519.76
- Take Home (Month)£1,209.98
- Effective Tax Rate5.0%
£18,462
- Gross Pay£18,462.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,812.24
- Take Home (Month)£1,401.02
- Effective Tax Rate8.9%
The difference in take-home pay is £2,292 per year, which works out to £191.04 per month.