Updated for 2025/26
£26,718 vs £31,218 Salary Comparison
Compare a £26,718 salary against £31,218. 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
£
£
Comparison Results
| Metric | £26,718 | £31,218 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £26,718 | £31,218 | £4,500 |
| Income Tax | £2,830 | £3,730 | £900 |
| National Insurance | £1,132 | £1,492 | £360 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £22,757 | £25,997 | £3,240 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,896 | £2,166 | £270 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 14.8% | 16.7% | 1.9% |
£26,718
Gross£26,718
Take-Home£22,757
You Keep85.2%
£31,218
Gross£31,218
Take-Home£25,997
You Keep83.3%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£26,718
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£2,829.60
National Insurance£1,131.84
Take Home (Monthly)£1,896.38
£31,218
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£3,729.60
National Insurance£1,491.84
Take Home (Monthly)£2,166.38
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: £26,718 vs £31,218
£26,718
- Gross Pay£26,718.00
- Take Home (Year)£22,756.56
- Take Home (Month)£1,896.38
- Effective Tax Rate14.8%
£31,218
- Gross Pay£31,218.00
- Take Home (Year)£25,996.56
- Take Home (Month)£2,166.38
- Effective Tax Rate16.7%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,240 per year, which works out to £270.00 per month.