Pro Rata Salary Explained — How to Calculate Part-Time Pay

Pro rata means "in proportion." When a job ad says a role pays "£36,000 pro rata," it means that's the full-time equivalent salary — your actual pay will be proportionally lower based on the hours you work.

Pro Rata Salary Formula

Worked Examples

Pro Rata for Fixed-Term or Mid-Year Starts

If you join or leave mid-year, your pay for that year is prorated by the number of days/weeks worked:

Pro Rata Holiday Entitlement

UK workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday per year, pro-rated for part-time workers. If you work 3 days per week (60% of full-time):

5.6 weeks × 3 days = 16.8 days (rounded up to 17 by most employers)

Use our Pro Rata Salary Calculator to work out your exact figures.

Pro Rata Tax and Take-Home Pay

Your pro rata salary is your actual gross salary for tax purposes. Income tax, NI, pension contributions, and student loan are all calculated on this amount. Because pro rata salaries are often lower, many part-time workers pay a lower effective tax rate and retain more of their earnings proportionally.