Pro Rata Salary & Holiday Calculator (UK)
What is Pro Rata?
In the UK, "pro rata" is a Latin term meaning "in proportion." When applied to employment, it means that your salary and benefits are adjusted based on the hours you work compared to a full-time employee. If a job is advertised with a £30,000 pro rata salary and you work half the standard hours, your actual gross pay will be £15,000.
How to Calculate Pro Rata Salary in the UK
The calculation for a pro rata salary is straightforward. You take the full-time equivalent salary, divide it by the standard full-time hours, and then multiply it by the hours you actually work.
Formula: (Full-Time Salary ÷ Full-Time Hours) × Actual Hours Worked
Pro Rata Holiday Entitlement
Under UK law, almost all workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday per year. For a full-time worker doing 5 days a week, this equates to 28 days (including bank holidays). If you work part-time, your holiday is calculated pro rata to ensure you receive the same proportion of rest as a full-time colleague.
Example Calculation
Imagine a role advertised at £40,000 per year based on a 40-hour week. You agree to work 20 hours per week.
- Salary: (£40,000 / 40) * 20 = £20,000 per annum.
- Monthly Pay: £20,000 / 12 = £1,666.67 gross per month.
- Holiday: If full-time staff get 30 days, you would get (30 / 40) * 20 = 15 days.
Common Full-Time Hours in the UK
While there is no legal definition of "full-time" in the UK, most employers consider it to be between 35 and 40 hours per week. Common figures used in contracts are 37.5 hours (allowing for a 30-minute unpaid lunch) or 40 hours. When using this calculator, ensure you check your contract for the specific "standard" hours for your firm.