How the hourly rate calculator works
Every pay conversion goes through the annual figure. The calculator turns whatever you enter into a yearly amount, then divides it back down into hourly, daily, weekly and monthly pay. It uses three numbers you can change: hours a week, days a week and paid weeks a year.
Hourly rate = annual salary ÷ (hours a week × paid weeks a year)
Monthly pay = annual salary ÷ 12
Monthly pay is always the annual figure divided by 12, not weekly pay multiplied by four. A year has 52 weeks, so a month is about 4.33 weeks. Multiplying by four understates your monthly pay by nearly 8%.
Worked example: £15 an hour to annual salary
You're paid £15 an hour for a 37.5-hour week, and paid for all 52 weeks of the year (holiday included).
- Weekly: £15 × 37.5 = £562.50
- Daily (5-day week): £562.50 ÷ 5 = £112.50
- Annual: £562.50 × 52 = £29,250
- Monthly: £29,250 ÷ 12 = £2,437.50
And the other way: £35,000 salary to hourly
On a 37.5-hour week over 52 weeks you work 1,950 paid hours a year. £35,000 ÷ 1,950 = £17.95 an hour.
Salary to hourly rate table
Hourly rates for common salaries, based on 37.5 hours a week and 52 paid weeks (1,950 hours a year):
| Annual salary | Monthly | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| £24,784.50 | £2,065.38 | £476.63 | £12.71 |
| £25,000 | £2,083.33 | £480.77 | £12.82 |
| £30,000 | £2,500 | £576.92 | £15.38 |
| £40,000 | £3,333.33 | £769.23 | £20.51 |
| £50,000 | £4,166.67 | £961.54 | £25.64 |
The first row is the National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour (from 1 April 2026) for someone aged 21 or over working 37.5 hours a week. On a 40-hour week the same salaries work out lower per hour: £30,000 is £14.42 an hour over 2,080 hours.
Should you use 52 weeks or fewer?
If you're on a salary, use 52. Your paid holiday is already part of your annual salary, so dividing by fewer weeks would overstate your hourly rate. Use fewer weeks only if you're paid just for the weeks you work, such as term-time staff or some agency and zero-hours workers. For example, a teaching assistant paid for 39 weeks at 32.5 hours a week on £13 an hour earns £13 × 32.5 × 39 = £16,477.50 a year.
Contractors and freelancers working out a day rate should remember they don't get paid holiday, sick pay or pension contributions. A day rate that looks generous often isn't once you allow for 5 to 8 weeks a year without work.
Gross pay versus take-home pay
All the figures here are gross, meaning before deductions. Income tax, National Insurance, pension and any student loan come off before you're paid. On £29,250 in England, for example, you'd take home about £24,580 a year in 2026/27 with no pension or student loan. The take-home pay calculator shows the exact figure, and the pro rata salary calculator helps if you're moving to part-time hours. If you're paid hourly, check your rate against the legal minimum with the minimum wage calculator.
Tips
- Check whether your contracted hours include lunch breaks. Unpaid breaks shouldn't be counted.
- Overtime is often paid at a higher rate, so work out your basic hourly rate first and then apply the premium.
- If your hours vary week to week, use the average over the last 12 weeks for a fair figure.
Frequently asked questions
How much is £30,000 a year per hour?
£30,000 a year is £15.38 an hour on a 37.5-hour week, or £14.42 an hour on a 40-hour week, assuming 52 paid weeks. That's £2,500 a month before tax.
How much is £15 an hour annually?
£15 an hour is £29,250 a year for a 37.5-hour week and £31,200 for a 40-hour week, based on 52 paid weeks. Per month that's £2,437.50 and £2,600 respectively.
How many working hours are there in a year?
A 37.5-hour week over 52 weeks is 1,950 paid hours a year, and a 40-hour week is 2,080. Paid holiday is included in those figures because salaried staff are paid for it.
How do I work out my hourly rate from my monthly pay?
Multiply your monthly pay by 12 to get an annual figure, then divide by your hours a week multiplied by 52. For example, £2,000 a month on 40 hours a week is £24,000 ÷ 2,080 = £11.54 an hour.
Why can't I just multiply weekly pay by 4 to get monthly pay?
Because a month is about 4.33 weeks, not 4. Multiply weekly pay by 52 and divide by 12 instead. £500 a week is £2,166.67 a month, not £2,000.
Last reviewed October 2026 using 2026/27 figures. This calculator gives an estimate for guidance only.