Pay & tax
Pro-Rata Salary Explained: What Part-Time Pay Means
What pro-rata salary means in the UK, how to convert a full-time figure to part-time pay, and worked examples for reduced hours and term-time roles.
Updated July 2026 · 7 min read
General information only — not financial, legal or tax advice. Rates and rules change; check GOV.UK or official resources before making decisions.
Key takeaways
- Pro-rata means 'in proportion' — your pay is scaled to the share of full-time hours and weeks you work.
- A job advertised at £30,000 pro-rata usually means the full-time equivalent; on half hours you typically earn £15,000 a year.
- Formula: (your hours ÷ full-time hours) × (weeks worked ÷ 52) × full-time salary.
- Term-time roles reduce pay further by weeks worked — for example 39 weeks at full hours is 75% of the FTE salary.
- Pro-rata figures are gross. Use the PAYE Salary Calculator for take-home, and the Holiday Pay Calculator for leave.
What does pro-rata salary mean?
Pro-rata (often written "pro rata") means in proportion. When a UK job is quoted as a pro-rata salary, the number is usually the full-time equivalent (FTE) — what you would earn if you worked the full hours for the full year. Your actual pay is a share of that figure based on the hours and weeks you work.
So "£28,000 pro-rata, 20 hours" is not £28,000 in your bank. It is a part-time cut of a £28,000 full-time role. Always check the advert and contract for both the FTE salary and your contracted hours.
How do I calculate a pro-rata salary?
Divide your weekly hours by the employer's full-time hours, then multiply by weeks worked over 52, then multiply by the full-time salary. That is the same method our Pro-rata Salary Calculator uses.
Example: £35,000 FTE, 37.5 full-time hours, you work 22.5 hours for 52 weeks. That is 60% of full time, so pro-rata pay is £21,000 a year — about £1,750 a month before tax.
- Hours share = your hours ÷ full-time hours.
- Weeks share = weeks worked ÷ 52.
- Pro-rata annual = full-time salary × hours share × weeks share.
Worked examples: part-time hours
These examples assume you work every week of the year (52 weeks). Change the full-time hours if your workplace uses 40 hours instead of 37.5.
Use the calculator to plug in your own figures — small differences in contracted hours change the annual total quickly.
| FTE salary | Full-time hours | Your hours | Proportion | Pro-rata annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £30,000 | 37.5 | 18.75 | 50% | £15,000 |
| £30,000 | 37.5 | 30 | 80% | £24,000 |
| £35,000 | 37.5 | 22.5 | 60% | £21,000 |
| £36,000 | 37.5 | 22.5 | 60% | £21,600 |
| £40,000 | 40 | 20 | 50% | £20,000 |
How does term-time pro-rata pay work?
Term-time and other part-year roles scale pay by weeks as well as hours. If you work full hours but only 39 weeks a year, you earn 39 ÷ 52 = 75% of the FTE salary.
On a £28,000 FTE role at 37.5 hours for 39 weeks, pro-rata pay is £21,000 a year. Weekly pay during working weeks is higher than a year-round part-timer on the same annual figure, because the salary is spread over fewer weeks.
| Weeks worked | Proportion | Pro-rata annual | Approx. weekly (working weeks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52 (all year) | 100% | £28,000 | £538.46 |
| 39 (term-time) | 75% | £21,000 | £538.46 |
| 42 | 80.8% | £22,615 | £538.46 |
Is the salary on the job ad what I will be paid?
Often no — not if the figure is labelled pro-rata or FTE. Many ads show the full-time salary so you can compare roles fairly. Your offer letter should state the actual annual (or hourly) pay for your pattern.
If an ad says "£32,000" with no pro-rata wording but lists part-time hours, ask payroll or the recruiter which number is the FTE and which is the cash salary. Do not assume.
Does pro-rata affect holiday entitlement?
Yes. Statutory holiday is 5.6 weeks of the days or hours you normally work — so part-time leave is also pro-rated. Someone on three days a week gets 16.8 days at the legal minimum, not 28.
Read our Holiday Pay Explained guide and use the Holiday Pay Calculator for entitlement. Pro-rata salary and holiday both start from your working pattern, but they answer different questions: cash pay versus days off.
Is pro-rata pay before or after tax?
Pro-rata salary quotes are almost always gross — before income tax and National Insurance. A £21,000 pro-rata salary is not £21,000 take-home.
Enter the pro-rata annual figure into the PAYE Salary Calculator to estimate net pay. If you only know an hourly rate, the Hourly to Salary Calculator can convert hours into an annual figure first.
Check your pro-rata pay
Use the Pro-rata Salary Calculator with the FTE salary, full-time hours, your hours and weeks worked. Then run the result through the PAYE Salary Calculator for take-home pay.
Estimates only — your contract decides the exact figure. If an offer looks lower than the proportion of hours you work, raise it before you accept.
Frequently asked questions
- What does pro-rata mean on a job advert?
- It usually means the salary shown is the full-time equivalent. Your actual pay is scaled to the hours and weeks you work. Always confirm both the FTE figure and your contracted pattern in writing.
- How do I work out my pro-rata salary?
- Multiply the full-time salary by (your hours ÷ full-time hours) and by (weeks worked ÷ 52). Example: £35,000 × (22.5 ÷ 37.5) × (52 ÷ 52) = £21,000.
- Is a pro-rata salary the amount I take home?
- No. Pro-rata figures are normally gross. Tax and National Insurance still come off through PAYE. Use a take-home pay calculator on the pro-rata annual amount.
- How does pro-rata work for term-time only jobs?
- You also scale by weeks worked. Full hours for 39 weeks is 75% of the FTE salary (39 ÷ 52). Combine hours and weeks if you are both part-time and term-time.
- Does going part-time cut my holiday as well?
- Statutory holiday is based on your normal working pattern, so yes — entitlement is pro-rated with your days or hours. A four-day week is typically 22.4 days at the legal minimum, not 28.
- What if my hours change mid-year?
- Pay is usually recalculated from the change date using the new hours. Holiday may also be recalculated for the rest of the leave year. Ask payroll for a written breakdown of both.
Try the calculator
Put this into numbers with our free UK calculators.
Need free help? See our useful UK resources including MoneyHelper and StepChange.