Updated for 2025/26
£18,000 vs £36,000 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,000 salary against £36,000. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£18,000
per year
Take Home Extra
+£1,080.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£64,800
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 | £18,000 | £36,000 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,000 | £36,000 | £18,000 |
| Income Tax | £1,086 | £4,686 | £3,600 |
| National Insurance | £434 | £1,874 | £1,440 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,480 | £29,440 | £12,960 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,373 | £2,453 | £1,080 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.4% | 18.2% | 9.8% |
£18,000
Gross£18,000
Take-Home£16,480
You Keep91.6%
£36,000
Gross£36,000
Take-Home£29,440
You Keep81.8%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,086.00
National Insurance£434.40
Take Home (Monthly)£1,373.30
£36,000
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£4,686.00
National Insurance£1,874.40
Take Home (Monthly)£2,453.30
What £1,080.00 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
Savings Boost
£12,960.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £18,000 vs £36,000
£18,000
- Gross Pay£18,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,479.60
- Take Home (Month)£1,373.30
- Effective Tax Rate8.4%
£36,000
- Gross Pay£36,000.00
- Take Home (Year)£29,439.60
- Take Home (Month)£2,453.30
- Effective Tax Rate18.2%
The difference in take-home pay is £12,960 per year, which works out to £1,080.00 per month.