How to Calculate Hourly Rate From Annual Salary UK
To calculate your hourly rate from an annual salary in the UK, divide the salary by the number of hours you work in a year. The standard working year is often taken as 52 weeks multiplied by your weekly hours, but that includes holiday weeks, so many people use 48 or 46 weeks to reflect time actually worked.
Worked example: a £30,000 salary on a 37.5-hour week gives about £15.38 an hour over 52 weeks, or about £16.67 an hour over 48 weeks. The 52-week figure is the one most employers use for comparison, while the 48-week figure is closer to what each working hour is really worth.
Use the hourly rate to compare jobs fairly. A higher salary on longer hours can mean a lower hourly rate, and a lower salary on shorter hours can mean a higher one. Factor in pension contributions, holiday allowance and other benefits before deciding which offer is genuinely better.
- Hourly rate = annual salary ÷ annual working hours.
- 52 weeks is the comparison standard; 48 weeks reflects time actually worked.
- Compare hourly rates, not just salaries, when judging job offers.
Try the free calculator to work out your own figures in seconds.