Convert salary to hourly pay
Enter your annual salary, weekly hours and weeks worked per year. The result is a gross pay comparison before tax, National Insurance, pension or student loan deductions.
How salary to hourly is calculated
The basic calculation divides your annual gross pay by your annual working hours. Annual working hours are your weekly hours multiplied by the number of weeks worked in the year.
This gives a gross hourly rate. It does not show your after-tax take-home hourly rate. To estimate net pay after tax, use the take-home pay calculator as well.
annual working hours = weekly hours × weeks worked
hourly rate = annual salary ÷ annual working hours
daily equivalent = annual salary ÷ working days per year
Minimum wage comparison
From 1 April 2026, the National Living Wage is £12.71 for workers aged 21 and over. The National Minimum Wage rates are £10.85 for ages 18 to 20, £8.00 for under 18s and £8.00 for apprentices.
This calculator can compare your gross hourly equivalent against those rates. It is a simple comparison only; minimum wage compliance can depend on working time, deductions, unpaid time and the exact pay reference period.
| Age band | Rate from 1 April 2026 | Use this for |
|---|---|---|
| Age 21 or over | £12.71 | National Living Wage comparison. |
| Age 18 to 20 | £10.85 | Adult National Minimum Wage comparison. |
| Under 18 | £8.00 | Young worker comparison. |
| Apprentice | £8.00 | Apprentice rate where applicable. |
Example salary to hourly conversions
These examples use a full paid year of 52 weeks. Change the weeks worked field if you want to compare against unpaid time off or contracting.
| Annual salary | Weekly hours | Weeks worked | Annual hours | Hourly equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £24,000 | 37.5 | 52 | 1,950 | £12.31 |
| £35,000 | 37.5 | 52 | 1,950 | £17.95 |
| £52,000 | 40 | 52 | 2,080 | £25.00 |
Gross hourly rate vs take-home hourly rate
Salary-to-hourly conversion usually uses gross pay. That makes it useful for comparing jobs, contracts and advertised salary packages. But your real spending money is based on net pay after Income Tax, National Insurance, pension and other deductions.
If you are comparing two job offers, check both the gross hourly equivalent and the estimated take-home pay. A higher salary can still feel different after tax, pension contributions, travel costs or unpaid overtime.
Check take-home pay next
Convert gross salary into an estimated monthly net pay after tax, NI, pension and student loan deductions.
When a salary-to-hourly calculation helps
- Comparing jobs: see which role pays more per hour, not just per year.
- Checking overtime value: estimate your base rate before overtime multipliers.
- Negotiating pay: turn a salary target into an hourly figure.
- Contracting: compare an employee salary with a day rate or hourly rate.
- Part-time work: understand the hourly value of a pro-rata salary.
Compare with day rate
For contractor or freelance comparisons, a daily rate can be more useful than an hourly rate.
Related salary glossary terms
These terms help when comparing salary, hourly pay and job offers.
Salary to hourly FAQs
Is this hourly rate before or after tax?
It is before tax. It converts gross annual salary into a gross hourly equivalent. Use the take-home pay calculator for after-tax pay.
Should I include paid holiday?
If you are an employee paid all year, 52 weeks is usually the simplest comparison. If you are comparing unpaid time off or contractor work, reduce the weeks worked.
What if I regularly work unpaid overtime?
Use your realistic weekly hours, not just contracted hours, if you want to estimate the true hourly value of the job.
Can I convert hourly pay to annual salary?
Yes. Switch the calculator to hourly-to-salary mode and enter your hourly rate, weekly hours and weeks worked.