Term-time-only salary calculator
Turn the full-time equivalent salary on a school or council job advert into what you'll actually be paid for term-time hours.
Your result appears here as you type.
Gross pay before tax and NI. Your employer’s own formula may differ slightly.
How this is calculated
There are two adjustments. The first is for hours: 30 hours on a 37-hour full-time week is 81.1%. The second is for weeks: you're paid for the weeks you work plus the holiday you build up in them. With the legal minimum of 5.6 weeks a year, someone working 39 weeks earns 39 × 5.6 ÷ 46.543 = 4.69 weeks of holiday, so 43.69 paid weeks. That's 83.8% of 52.143.
Your actual pay is FTE × hours share × weeks share. Many councils include bank holidays or give more leave for long service, which raises the paid weeks. If your contract gives a figure for paid weeks or holiday, enter it in the holiday box.
Worked example: teaching assistant, 30 hours, 39 weeks
The advert says £24,000 FTE for 37 hours a week.
- Hours share: 30 ÷ 37 = 0.8108
- Paid weeks: 39 + 4.69 holiday = 43.69, which is 0.8379 of a year
- Pay: £24,000 × 0.8108 × 0.8379 = £16,305.76
Paid in 12 instalments, that's about £1,359 a month before tax.
Questions people ask
How is term-time-only pay calculated?
Your full-time salary is multiplied by your hours as a share of full-time hours, then by the weeks you are paid for as a share of the 52.143 weeks in a year. The paid weeks are the weeks you work plus your holiday entitlement for those weeks.
Why is my term-time salary paid in 12 equal instalments?
Most schools and councils spread the pro-rata salary over 12 months so you are paid in the holidays too. Your annual pay is the same either way, but it’s easier to budget.
How much holiday do term-time workers get?
At least 5.6 weeks a year pro rata, under the Working Time Regulations. Because term-time staff can only take leave in school holidays, the holiday is usually paid as extra weeks in the pay calculation. Many councils give more than the minimum, so check your contract.
Is 39 weeks the standard for term-time contracts?
Schools in England usually have 190 pupil days plus 5 training days, which is 39 weeks. Some support staff contracts are 38, 39 or 40 weeks depending on training days and the role.
What is 52.143 weeks?
The number of weeks in a 365-day year (365 ÷ 7). Some employers use 52.143 and others use 52 or 52.14, which explains small differences between calculators.
Sources
- Holiday entitlement (GOV.UK)
Rates and review
Uses rates for the 2026/27 tax year. Figures last checked against the sources on 25 October 2026.
Written by author to be named. Reviewed by qualified reviewer to be named.
See how we calculate and the disclaimer. Spotted a wrong figure? Report a problem.