What Does DOE Salary Mean? A UK Guide to Understanding 'Depends on Experience' Pay

If you've been browsing UK job adverts, you've likely seen the abbreviation 'DOE' next to the salary. It stands for 'Depends on Experience' and means the employer hasn't published a fixed pay figure. Instead, the salary is negotiable based on your skills, qualifications, and years in the role. But how do you know if a DOE offer is fair? This guide explains what DOE salary means in practice, how to convert hourly rates to annual figures, and what official UK earnings data can tell you.

Understanding DOE in UK Job Ads

When a job advert says 'salary DOE', the employer is signalling flexibility. They may have a budget range but prefer to tailor the offer to the candidate's background. This is common in roles where experience varies widely, such as IT, sales, or management. The lack of a fixed number can be frustrating, but you can use UK benchmarks to estimate a reasonable figure.

Official earnings data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) provides the most reliable picture. For April 2025, the median gross annual earnings for full-time employees was £39,039. The median hourly pay (excluding overtime) was £19.67, and median weekly earnings were £766.60. These figures are based on a 1% sample of employee jobs from HMRC PAYE records, making them the gold standard for UK pay analysis.

The National Living Wage and Minimum Wage Context

For lower-skilled or entry-level roles, the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) set a legal floor. As of April 2025, the rates are:

• £12.21 per hour for employees aged 21 and over (NLW)
• £10.00 per hour for employees aged 18 to 20
• £7.55 per hour for employees aged 16 to 17
• £7.55 per hour for apprentices (all ages in first year)

If a DOE advert suggests a rate below these, it's likely illegal. For a full-time role at 37.5 hours per week, the NLW equates to about £23,809.50 per year. The ONS notes that low-paid occupations saw hourly pay increases close to or above the 6.7% NLW rise in April 2025, so DOE offers in these sectors should reflect that uplift.

Converting Hourly DOE Rates to Annual Salary

When a DOE advert mentions an hourly rate, you can estimate the annual equivalent using a standard conversion. The typical assumption for full-time work is 37.5 hours per week over 52 weeks (including paid holiday). The formula is:

Annual salary ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52

For example:

• £12.21/hr × 37.5 × 52 = £23,809.50
• £19.67/hr (median hourly) × 37.5 × 52 = £38,356.50 (close to the median annual figure of £39,039)

Remember that this is a rule of thumb. Actual pay depends on your rota, how holiday pay is calculated, any London weighting, overtime rules, and salary sacrifice arrangements. Always check your contract and official GOV.UK guidance on pay.

Part-Time vs Full-Time Considerations

DOE adverts sometimes specify 'full-time' or 'part-time'. The ONS defines full-time as 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% the previous year. If you're offered a part-time DOE role, adjust the conversion accordingly. For instance, a 20-hour-per-week job at £12.21/hr gives an annual figure of about £12,698.40 (20 × 52 × £12.21).

London Weighting and Overtime

DOE salaries in London often include a 'London weighting' uplift to account for higher living costs. This is not captured in national ASHE averages, but you can find regional breakdowns in ONS data tables. Overtime pay is also separate: ASHE reports overtime pay separately, and DOE offers may or may not include expected overtime. Clarify this during negotiations.

Using Benchmarks to Negotiate a DOE Offer

When you receive a DOE offer, compare it against:

• The median for your occupation (available in ONS ASHE tables by Standard Occupational Classification)
• The National Living Wage (if you're 21+)
• The average for your region (ONS provides regional breakdowns)

For example, if you're a software developer (SOC code 2135), you can look up the median earnings for that role in the latest ASHE data. This gives you a solid basis for negotiation.

Summary

'DOE' means the employer is open to negotiation based on your experience. To evaluate a DOE salary, use official UK benchmarks like the median full-time earnings of £39,039 (ONS ASHE 2025) and the National Living Wage of £12.21 per hour. Convert hourly rates to annual figures using the 37.5-hour-week rule, but remember that actual pay can vary. For more tools, see our Hourly to Salary calculator and browse salary data for industry-specific insights.

Always ask the employer for a salary range during the application process. A transparent discussion about DOE expectations helps both sides find a fair figure.