WORKING PATTERN · 2026/27
Four-day week salary calculator
Compare salary and hourly value when moving from five days to four. This is useful when a job offer, contract change or compressed-hours request changes the number of working days rather than the headline salary.
Estimated result
- Gross reduction
- £10,000
- Current hourly equivalent
- £25.64
- New weekly hours
- 30 hours
Assumes salary is reduced in direct proportion to contracted days. Employment terms may preserve full pay.
What this calculator does
It compares the annual salary, gross reduction and hourly value if your working week drops from five days to four.
Worked example
A £50,000 salary on a five-day contract that moves to four days usually reduces in direct proportion if pay is prorated. The useful question is whether the new salary still covers the same housing, travel and pension commitments.
If the employer keeps full pay or changes hours and responsibilities differently, the result will move away from the simple ratio shown here.
Why the result may differ
Some employers keep pay flat, some reduce in direct proportion to days, and some alter hours or responsibilities as well. The same headline salary can therefore mean a very different hourly value.
SOURCES & REVIEW
Checked against official guidance
Last reviewed 1 September 2026 · Rule version GB-2026.27.1
Daily/weekly source monitoring. If a source changes, the affected rule set is reviewed before publication.
All source links are kept visible so you can verify the figures used on this page.
GOV.UK: Flexible working ↗Sources, methodology and update policy →Report an issue or correction →WHY RESULTS DIFFER
Why two users can see different results
Why the result can differ
Different tax codes, payroll periods, Scottish bands, pension methods or lender assumptions can change the outcome.
One-off bonuses, pay frequency, overpayments, allowances and reliefs can move the result away from a simple annual estimate.
Where a rule depends on eligibility or legal status, this page shows an estimate and links to official guidance.
This section is intentionally repeated on key tools so the explanation stays near the result instead of being hidden in a separate policy page.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
Does a four-day week always cut pay?
No. Some employers keep salary unchanged, while others reduce pay in direct proportion to days or hours.
Does this include tax changes?
No. It shows the gross working-pattern effect. Use the take-home calculator for tax and NI.
Can the hourly value go up?
Yes. If pay is reduced less than the number of hours or days, the hourly value can increase.