Updated for 2025/26
£18,239 vs £31,020 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,239 salary against £31,020. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£12,781
per year
Take Home Extra
+£766.86
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£46,012
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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £18,239 | £31,020 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,239 | £31,020 | £12,781 |
| Income Tax | £1,134 | £3,690 | £2,556 |
| National Insurance | £454 | £1,476 | £1,022 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,652 | £25,854 | £9,202 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,388 | £2,155 | £767 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.7% | 16.7% | 8.0% |
£18,239
Gross£18,239
Take-Home£16,652
You Keep91.3%
£31,020
Gross£31,020
Take-Home£25,854
You Keep83.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,239
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,133.80
National Insurance£453.52
Take Home (Monthly)£1,387.64
£31,020
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,690.00
National Insurance£1,476.00
Take Home (Monthly)£2,154.50
What £766.86 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
£9,202.32/year extra into savings or investments
Car Payment
Could cover a decent car on PCP or lease
Full Comparison: £18,239 vs £31,020
£18,239
- Gross Pay£18,239.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,651.68
- Take Home (Month)£1,387.64
- Effective Tax Rate8.7%
£31,020
- Gross Pay£31,020.00
- Take Home (Year)£25,854.00
- Take Home (Month)£2,154.50
- Effective Tax Rate16.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £9,202 per year, which works out to £766.86 per month.