Career Breaks

UK career break impact calculators. Lost earnings and re-entry estimates.

Find your role

Type your role or organisation in the search box, then pick your calculator from the list. Or tap a letter to jump there straight away.

Jump to:

Quick links to popular roles. All calculators are also listed by sector below.

Staff Nurse Career Break Impact Calculator Classroom Teacher Career Break Impact Calculator HEO Career Break Impact Calculator Care Worker Career Break Impact Calculator

Calculators by sector

Browse by sector to find your role. Every calculator in this category is listed below.

Health

Education

Central Government

Local Government

Emergency Services

Defence

Transport & Infrastructure

Public Bodies & Agencies

Understand career break impact

Career break calculators give an illustrative view of earnings you might not receive during a break and what re-entry pay could look like at a given spine point or band position.

Example scenario

Lisa, social worker

NJC spine, considering a 12-month break

She is planning a year out and wants a rough sense of lost earnings during the break and what pay might look like if she returns at the bottom of her grade.

In the Social Worker career break calculator, she might see:

  • Lost earnings during the break
  • Re-entry gross illustrative starting point
  • Comparison with staying in post

Illustrative only. These tools do not model pension service or scheme rules. Confirm options with HR and your union.

What to verify with your employer

  • Whether your break is paid, unpaid or a mix
  • Where you re-enter on the pay spine or grade
  • Pension and service implications with your scheme

About this calculator

What does the career break calculator do?

It gives an illustrative view of lost earnings during a break and what re-entry pay might look like (e.g. at the bottom of your band or at a given spine point). It does not cover pension or service rules.

Who is it for?

We cover career break impact for roles across the UK public sector: health, education, central government, local government and more. Pick your sector above to find your role.

Always check your employer

Career break policies and return-to-work pay are set by your employer. Confirm your options with HR or your union.