A Pro Rata Salary Calculator is an essential tool for anyone in the UK considering part-time work, job sharing, or flexible hours. In the UK, "pro rata" simply means that your pay is proportional to the number of hours you work compared to a full-time contract. Whether you are returning from maternity leave, scaling back for a better work-life balance, or taking on a temporary contract, understanding your actual take-home pay is vital.
This tool helps you bridge the gap between "Full-Time Equivalent" (FTE) figures often seen in job descriptions and the actual pounds and pence that will land in your bank account. We use the latest 2025/26 tax year data to provide the most accurate estimates possible.
How it's Calculated
(Annual Salary / FT Hours) * Part-Time Hours
Example: If a job pays £40,000 for 40 hours/week, but you work 30 hours:
1. £40,000 / 40 = £1,000 (Weekly FT rate)
2. £1,000 * 30/40 = £750 (Your weekly rate)
3. £750 * 52 = £39,000 (Wait, that's wrong!)
Actually: (£40k / 40) * 30 = £30,000 Pro Rata Annual.
Common Scenarios
- Part-Time Roles: Fixed hours (e.g. 3 days a week).
- Job Shares: Splitting one FTE role between two people.
- Term-Time Only: Working only during school weeks.
- Partial Year: Contract starting mid-year or ending early.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'pro rata' actually mean?
Pro rata is a Latin term meaning 'in proportion'. In a UK employment context, it means your salary is calculated based on the proportion of full-time hours you work. If you work half the hours of a full-time employee, you receive half the salary.
How do I calculate my pro rata salary by hours?
The standard formula is: (Gross Full-Time Salary ÷ Full-Time Hours) × Your Actual Hours. For example, if the full-time salary is £30,000 for 40 hours and you work 20 hours, your pro rata pay is £15,000.
Is my pro rata holiday calculated the same way?
Yes. In the UK, statutory holiday entitlement (5.6 weeks) is pro-rated based on your working hours or days. If a full-timer gets 28 days and you work 50% of the hours, you are entitled to 14 days of holiday.
What is an FTE salary?
FTE stands for 'Full-Time Equivalent'. It represents the salary a person would earn if they worked a full-time schedule. Recruiters often quote FTE salaries in job ads even for part-time roles.
Do I get a full personal tax allowance if I work pro rata?
Yes. Every individual in the UK typically has a personal allowance (£12,570 for 2025/26) regardless of whether they work full-time or part-time. This often means part-time workers pay a lower effective tax rate.
How does pro rata work for mid-month starters?
If you start mid-month, your first month's pay is usually calculated by taking the monthly salary and dividing it by the number of workdays in that specific month, then multiplying by the days you actually worked.
Does Scotland have different tax rates for pro rata pay?
Yes, Scotland has its own income tax bands. While the pro rata gross salary calculation remains the same, the take-home pay may differ if you live in Scotland due to the Starter, Intermediate, and Higher rates.
Are pension contributions pro-rated?
Pension contributions are usually a percentage of your actual (pro rata) earnings, not the full-time equivalent salary. If you contribute 5%, it's 5% of what you actually take home before tax.
How do I calculate pro rata for term-time only work?
Term-time pay is usually calculated by taking the annual salary, dividing by 52 weeks, and multiplying by the number of weeks worked (e.g., 39 weeks) plus your pro-rata holiday entitlement.
What if I work irregular hours?
For irregular hours, it is often easier to calculate your pay based on an hourly rate. You can use our calculator to find the hourly rate equivalent of a full-time salary to ensure you are being paid fairly.
Related Terms Glossary
FTE
Full-Time Equivalent. A way to measure a worker's involvement in a project or a role's workload.
PAYE
Pay As You Earn. The UK system for collecting Income Tax and National Insurance from your wages.
Gross Salary
Your total pay before any taxes, pension, or student loan deductions are taken out.
Net Salary
The actual 'take-home' pay that arrives in your bank account after all deductions.
Statutory Holiday
The legal minimum amount of paid leave an employer must provide (5.6 weeks in the UK).
NI Category A
The standard National Insurance category for most employees in the UK.