Updated for 2025/26
£18,006 vs £26,556 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,006 salary against £26,556. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£8,550
per year
Take Home Extra
+£513.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£30,780
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 | £18,006 | £26,556 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,006 | £26,556 | £8,550 |
| Income Tax | £1,087 | £2,797 | £1,710 |
| National Insurance | £435 | £1,119 | £684 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,484 | £22,640 | £6,156 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,374 | £1,887 | £513 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.5% | 14.7% | 6.3% |
£18,006
Gross£18,006
Take-Home£16,484
You Keep91.5%
£26,556
Gross£26,556
Take-Home£22,640
You Keep85.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,006
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,087.20
National Insurance£434.88
Take Home (Monthly)£1,373.66
£26,556
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,797.20
National Insurance£1,118.88
Take Home (Monthly)£1,886.66
What £513.00 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
£6,156.00/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £18,006 vs £26,556
£18,006
- Gross Pay£18,006.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,483.92
- Take Home (Month)£1,373.66
- Effective Tax Rate8.5%
£26,556
- Gross Pay£26,556.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,639.92
- Take Home (Month)£1,886.66
- Effective Tax Rate14.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £6,156 per year, which works out to £513.00 per month.