Prorated Salary Calculator
Work out the partial paycheck you should receive when you start, leave, or take unpaid days in the middle of a pay period.
How salary proration works
When you don’t work a full pay period — a mid-month start date, a final week before leaving, or unpaid leave — your salary is prorated: you receive the fraction of the period you actually worked.
Worked example
You start a $65,000 job on September 15, 2026, paid monthly. September has 22 workdays; from the 15th you work 12 of them.
Full month: $65,000 ÷ 12 = $5,416.67
Daily rate: $5,416.67 ÷ 22 = $246.21
First paycheck: $246.21 × 12 = $2,954.55 gross
The two common methods
- Working days (used above, and by most U.S. payroll teams): divide the period’s pay by its Monday–Friday workdays. Fair and matches how salaried work actually happens.
- Calendar days: divide by all days in the period (e.g., 30) and multiply by calendar days employed. Produces slightly different results; some payroll systems and many landlords use this style.
Neither method is mandated by federal law — employers just have to apply their method consistently. If your check doesn’t match this calculator, ask payroll which convention they use (a common alternative is a fixed “annual ÷ 260 workdays” daily rate).
When proration is not allowed
For exempt (salaried-no-overtime) employees, the FLSA limits salary docking: partial-day absences generally cannot reduce pay. Full-day deductions are allowed in specific cases — first and last weeks of employment, unpaid FMLA leave, full personal days off, and certain disciplinary suspensions. If your pay was docked for a two-hour absence as an exempt employee, that may violate the salary-basis rules.
Frequently asked questions
How do I count workdays in a month?
Count the Mondays–Fridays in the calendar month; U.S. months contain 20–23. Most employers count paid company holidays as workdays for proration (you were paid for them), but confirm whether yours excludes them.
Is my first paycheck prorated?
Yes, whenever your start date falls after the pay period began. Note that many employers also pay “in arrears” — your first check may arrive one full period after starting, covering only the partial period you worked.
How is a prorated final paycheck calculated?
The same way, counting workdays from the period start through your last day. Accrued unused PTO is paid out on top in states that require it (California, Colorado, Illinois and others) or where company policy says so.
Does proration change my tax withholding?
A smaller check can have proportionally less tax withheld because withholding tables annualize each paycheck. It self-corrects across the year; no action needed.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-20 · Report an issue