Guide
Why Is My First Payslip Lower? UK Starter Pay Guide
Starting partway through a pay period often produces a lower first payslip. The gross amount may cover only the days from your employment start date to the period end, before Income Tax, National Insurance and workplace pension deductions. Use the part month salary calculator to estimate the gross figure first.
Check the pay period before the pay date
The pay date and pay period are different. Confirm the period start and end shown by payroll, then count the days for which you were employed. A monthly starter estimate may use:
normal monthly gross pay × employed calendar days ÷ calendar days in the month
Your contract or payroll policy takes priority because employers can use a stated contractual method.
Gross pay and take-home pay are different
Compare the calculator with the gross pay line, not the amount paid into your bank. Income Tax, National Insurance, pension contributions and other authorised deductions reduce take-home pay. Your tax code can also affect the first deduction made through PAYE.
What to ask payroll
If the gross figure does not match, give payroll the pay period, annual salary, start date and your estimate. Ask which divisor and included dates it used. That turns a general concern into a calculation it can check.
Leaving during a pay period is the reverse calculation; see the final payslip and leaver pay guide.
▲ Check your own figure
Plug your numbers into the part month salary calculator — it shows the full working, so you can see exactly which days were counted.