Understanding SOC Codes and Salary Data

If you're a UK employee or job seeker trying to make sense of hourly rates and annual salaries, one of the most reliable tools is the SOC code with salary data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). SOC stands for Standard Occupational Classification, and each occupation in the UK is assigned a four-digit code. The ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) then publishes median hourly, weekly, and annual earnings for each SOC code, broken down by full-time and part-time, sex, and region.

For example, SOC 221 covers medical practitioners, while SOC 213 covers IT professionals. By looking up a SOC code with salary data, you can see what typical workers in that role earn. In April 2025, the median full-time gross annual salary across all occupations was £39,039, with median hourly pay (excluding overtime) at £19.67. These figures come from the ONS ASHE 2025 release.

How to Find Your SOC Code

You can find your SOC code on the ONS website or through the salary articles on this site, which link to the official classification. Employers often list SOC codes in job descriptions, and they are used by HMRC for tax and pension reporting. Once you have your SOC code, you can compare your hourly rate against the national median for that occupation.

Converting Hourly Rates to Annual Salary

The standard conversion rule of thumb in the UK is: annual salary ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks. For a full-time employee working 37.5 hours per week (common in the NHS and many office roles), the formula is:

Annual = hourly × 37.5 × 52

For example, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over was £12.21 per hour in April 2025. That gives an annual salary of £12.21 × 37.5 × 52 = £23,809.50. For 2026/27, the NLW rises to £12.71, equating to £24,784.50 per year.

However, not all full-time roles use 37.5 hours. Some use 35 hours (e.g., civil service), 40 hours (many private sector jobs), or even 37 hours (some local government). Always check your contract for your exact contracted hours. The Hourly to Salary tool on this site lets you enter any hours per week to get an accurate annual figure.

Overtime and London Weighting

ASHE figures for hourly pay exclude overtime, but many roles include overtime pay at a higher rate (e.g., time-and-a-half). London weighting or Higher Cost Area Supplements (HCAS) can also significantly boost pay. For NHS staff in outer London, HCAS adds 20% of basic salary (minimum £5,794, maximum £8,746 in 2026/27). When converting an hourly rate to annual salary, remember that these extras are not captured by a simple hourly × hours × 52 calculation.

Part-Time vs Full-Time Considerations

The ONS defines full-time as working more than 30 paid hours per week (or 25 for teaching professions). Part-time is 30 hours or fewer. In April 2025, part-time employee jobs made up 28.0% of all jobs, up from 27.2% in 2024. Median weekly earnings for part-time employees were £280.00, compared to £766.60 for full-time.

When using a SOC code with salary data, the ASHE tables provide separate figures for full-time and part-time employees. If you work part-time, your annual salary is pro-rata based on your contracted hours. For example, a part-time nurse working 20 hours per week at £16.40 per hour (NHS Band 5 entry) would earn £16.40 × 20 × 52 = £17,056 per year, before HCAS.

Why Hours Assumptions Matter

Many job adverts list an annual salary based on a full-time equivalent (FTE) of 37.5 or 40 hours. If you are applying for a part-time role, the advertised salary is usually the FTE amount, and your actual pay will be reduced proportionally. Always clarify the hours per week and whether the salary is pro-rata. The conversion rule of thumb works both ways: to find your hourly rate from an annual salary, divide by (hours per week × 52).

Using the Hourly to Salary Calculator

Our Hourly to Salary tool is designed to handle these conversions easily. You can input your hourly rate, select your typical weekly hours, and see the annual and monthly equivalents. The tool also shows how your pay compares to the National Living Wage and median UK earnings. For job seekers, this helps you evaluate whether a role offers a fair wage relative to your SOC code.

Example: NHS Pay Scales

The NHS pay scales for 2026/27, published by NHS Employers, provide clear hourly and annual rates for each band. Band 5 (newly qualified nurses, for example) starts at £16.40 per hour, rising to £20.44 at the top step. For a 37.5-hour week, the annual salary range is approximately £31,980 to £39,858. These figures are before HCAS. By looking up the SOC code for nursing (SOC 2231), you can compare these NHS rates with the ONS median for all nurses, which may include private sector roles.

Key Takeaways

• Use a SOC code with salary from ONS ASHE to benchmark your pay against national medians for your occupation.
• Convert hourly to annual using: hourly × hours per week × 52. Adjust for part-time hours.
• Remember that overtime, London weighting, and bonuses are not included in basic conversion.
• Always check your contract for exact hours and any additional payments.
• The National Living Wage is a minimum; many occupations pay well above it.

For more detailed data and articles, visit our salary data page or explore topics related to UK earnings.