What Does FTE Mean in Salary?

If you've ever looked at a job advert or a pay scale and seen 'FTE' next to a salary figure, you might have wondered what it means. FTE stands for full-time equivalent. It's a way of expressing a part-time or pro-rata salary as if the employee worked a full-time week. This allows employers and employees to compare earnings fairly, regardless of hours worked.

In the UK, FTE is widely used in the public sector — the NHS, schools, local government — and in many private companies. Understanding FTE is essential when converting an hourly rate to an annual salary, or when comparing a part-time offer with a full-time benchmark.

How FTE Works in Practice

A standard full-time working week varies by sector. For the NHS and many public services, it's 37.5 hours. In other industries, it might be 35, 37, or 40 hours. When a salary is quoted as '£30,000 FTE', it means a full-time employee working the standard hours would earn £30,000 per year. A part-time employee working half those hours would receive £15,000 (pro-rata).

For example, the ONS ASHE 2025 reports median full-time weekly earnings of £766.60. That's based on employees working more than 30 paid hours per week (or 25+ for teachers). The corresponding median annual salary is £39,039, and the median hourly rate (excluding overtime) is £19.67.

Converting Hourly Rate to Annual FTE Salary

To convert an hourly rate to an annual FTE salary, use this formula:

Annual FTE salary = hourly rate × contracted hours per week × 52 weeks

For instance, if you're offered £12.71 per hour (the National Living Wage for 21+ from April 2026) and work 37.5 hours per week, your FTE annual salary would be:

£12.71 × 37.5 × 52 = £24,784.50

This matches the GOV.UK National Living Wage annual equivalent for a full-time worker. Remember, this is basic pay — overtime, bonuses, and London weighting are separate.

FTE in NHS Pay Scales

The NHS uses FTE extensively. The NHS Employers pay scales for 2026/27 show hourly rates for each band. For example, Band 6 entry step point is £20.44 per hour. A full-time Band 6 employee (37.5 hrs/week) would earn approximately £39,858 per year (20.44 × 37.5 × 52). Part-time staff are paid pro-rata.

NHS staff also receive Higher Cost Area Supplements (HCAS) in London and the South East, which are added to the basic FTE salary. The NHS Staff Earnings Estimates for March 2026 show mean annual basic pay per FTE of £43,595 for NHS Trusts and CCGs, and £55,119 for medical and dental staff.

Why FTE Matters for Job Seekers

When you see a salary advertised as '£25,000 FTE' for a 0.6 FTE role, it means the full-time equivalent is £25,000, but you'll actually earn 60% of that — £15,000 — for your part-time hours. This helps you compare roles fairly. It also ensures employers comply with equal pay legislation: a part-time worker doing the same job as a full-timer should receive the same hourly rate.

Regional and Seniority Differences

FTE salaries vary by region and seniority. The ONS data shows that median full-time earnings in London are significantly higher than the UK average, partly due to London weighting. Senior roles, such as managers and directors, have higher FTE salaries. The caring, leisure and other service occupations saw the largest percentage increase in weekly earnings between 2024 and 2025 (7.1%), but their absolute FTE salary remains lower than professional occupations.

Using Our Tools

To quickly convert your hourly rate to an annual FTE salary, try our hourly calculator. For more UK salary benchmarks, visit our salary data page. And if you're comparing part-time offers, our salary articles explain pro-rata calculations in detail.

Key Takeaways

• FTE means full-time equivalent, standardising pay to a full-time week.
• Conversion: annual ≈ hourly × hours per week × 52.
• UK benchmarks: ONS ASHE median full-time annual £39,039; NLW (21+) £12.71/hr from April 2026.
• NHS: pay bands show hourly rates; FTE salary is hourly × 37.5 × 52.
• Always check your contract for exact hours, overtime rules, and any allowances.