Updated for 2025/26
£26,018 vs £30,518 Salary Comparison
Compare a £26,018 salary against £30,518. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£4,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£270.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£16,200
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 | £26,018 | £30,518 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £26,018 | £30,518 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £2,690 | £3,590 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £1,076 | £1,436 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £22,253 | £25,493 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,854 | £2,124 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 14.5% | 16.5% | 2.0% |
£26,018
Gross£26,018
Take-Home£22,253
You Keep85.5%
£30,518
Gross£30,518
Take-Home£25,493
You Keep83.5%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£26,018
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,689.60
National Insurance£1,075.84
Take Home (Monthly)£1,854.38
£30,518
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,589.60
National Insurance£1,435.84
Take Home (Monthly)£2,124.38
What £270.00 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
Full Comparison: £26,018 vs £30,518
£26,018
- Gross Pay£26,018.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,252.56
- Take Home (Month)£1,854.38
- Effective Tax Rate14.5%
£30,518
- Gross Pay£30,518.00
- Take Home (Year)£25,492.56
- Take Home (Month)£2,124.38
- Effective Tax Rate16.5%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.