What does pro rata mean? Salary and holiday explained
The short answer: pro rata means “in proportion”. On a job advert, a salary marked pro rata is the full-time figure, and you are paid the share of it that matches the hours or weeks you work. A job at £30,000 pro rata for three days a week pays £18,000, not £30,000.
The formula
Your pay = your hours ÷ full-time hours × the full-time salary. If full-time is 37.5 hours and the advert says £30,000 pro rata, here is what different hours pay:
| Your hours | Share of full-time | Your pay | Holiday (days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 days (15 hours) | 40% (0.4 FTE) | £12,000 | 11.2 |
| 3 days (22.5 hours) | 60% (0.6 FTE) | £18,000 | 16.8 |
| 4 days (30 hours) | 80% (0.8 FTE) | £24,000 | 22.4 |
What gets pro rated
- Salary: scaled by hours.
- Holiday: 5.6 weeks pro rata, with bank holidays included or shared. See holiday entitlement for part-time workers and bank holidays.
- Bonuses, allowances and pension: usually in proportion to your pay or hours.
- Sick pay, maternity pay and redundancy: based on your actual pay, not the full-time figure.
The hourly rate does not change. If a full-timer is paid £15.38 an hour, you get the same hourly rate.
Pro rata for part of the year
The same idea works for time as well as hours. If you start in the middle of the year, or the job is term-time only, the pay is scaled by the weeks or days you are paid for. For term-time work see term-time only pay explained, and for starting or leaving mid-month see part-month salary.
What to check before you accept
- The full-time hours the salary is based on: 35, 37 and 37.5 all appear, and they change your pay.
- Your actual annual pay in pounds, in writing.
- Whether holiday and bank holidays are included in that figure.
- Your take-home pay after tax: use the take-home pay calculator.
More worked examples
| Advertised (full-time) | Your hours | Full-time hours | You are paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| £24,000 | 25 | 37.5 | £16,000 |
| £36,000 | 30 | 37.5 | £28,800 |
| £45,000 | 4 days of 5 | 5 days | £36,000 |
| £30,000 | 39 weeks of 52 | 52 weeks | £22,500 |
Holiday worked out in hours
Full-time holiday is 5.6 times your weekly hours. At 37.5 hours a week that is 210 hours a year. Someone working 22.5 hours gets 126 hours, which is the same 5.6 weeks. Many employers include bank holidays in that figure, so check whether your contract gives them on top.
Can an employer pay part-timers less per hour?
Not just because they are part-time. Under the Part-time Workers Regulations, you cannot be treated less favourably than a comparable full-time worker, which covers hourly pay, holiday, pension access and overtime rates once you pass the full-time hours. Pro rata means the same rate for fewer hours, not a lower rate.
Pro rata and different working patterns
- Compressed hours: if you work full-time hours in fewer days, you are normally paid the full salary.
- Job share: each person is paid pro rata for their hours, and holiday is shared in the same way.
- Term-time only: the salary is paid for the weeks worked, or spread across 12 months. See term-time only pay explained.
- Starting mid-year: holiday and bonus are scaled to the time you work.
How to check a pro rata offer
Ask which number the employer is using: full-time salary, actual salary, or FTE. Then calculate your own figure from your contracted hours and compare it with the offer letter. If the two differ, ask which full-time hours were used, as 35, 37 and 37.5 produce different results.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your contract for how your employer calculates pro rata pay.
Common questions
What does pro rata mean on a job advert?
The salary shown is for a full-time job, and what you actually earn is scaled down to the hours or weeks you work. A job advertised at £30,000 pro rata that is half-time pays £15,000.
How do you calculate pro rata salary?
Divide your hours by the full-time hours, then multiply by the full-time salary. For 22.5 hours out of 37.5 on £30,000, that is 22.5 ÷ 37.5 × £30,000 = £18,000.
Does pro rata mean the hourly rate is lower?
No. The hourly rate is the same as a full-time employee in the same job. Only the hours, and so the total pay, are lower.
Is holiday pro rata too?
Yes. Part-time workers get the same 5.6 weeks as full-timers, which is 5.6 times the days or hours they work in a week. A person on three days a week gets 16.8 days.
What does FTE mean?
FTE means full-time equivalent. A person working 22.5 hours of a 37.5-hour week is 0.6 FTE, and their pay is 0.6 of the full-time salary.