Updated for 2025/26
£18,338 vs £26,438 Salary Comparison
Compare a £18,338 salary against £26,438. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£8,100
per year
Take Home Extra
+£486.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£29,160
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 | £18,338 | £26,438 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £18,338 | £26,438 | £8,100 |
| Income Tax | £1,154 | £2,774 | £1,620 |
| National Insurance | £461 | £1,109 | £648 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £16,723 | £22,555 | £5,832 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,394 | £1,880 | £486 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 8.8% | 14.7% | 5.9% |
£18,338
Gross£18,338
Take-Home£16,723
You Keep91.2%
£26,438
Gross£26,438
Take-Home£22,555
You Keep85.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£18,338
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,153.60
National Insurance£461.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,393.58
£26,438
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,773.60
National Insurance£1,109.44
Take Home (Monthly)£1,879.58
What £486.00 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
£5,832.00/year extra into savings or investments
Full Comparison: £18,338 vs £26,438
£18,338
- Gross Pay£18,338.00
- Take Home (Year)£16,722.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,393.58
- Effective Tax Rate8.8%
£26,438
- Gross Pay£26,438.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,554.96
- Take Home (Month)£1,879.58
- Effective Tax Rate14.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £5,832 per year, which works out to £486.00 per month.