UK Minimum Wage 2026
From 1 April 2026, the UK National Living Wage is £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over. The minimum wage is £10.85 for workers aged 18–20 and £8.00 for workers under 18 above school-leaving age and £8.00 for qualifying apprentices. Your exact minimum rate depends on your age and apprenticeship status.
Your minimum rate
£12.71/hour
For workers aged 21 and over
- Weekly minimum pay
- £476.63
- Monthly equivalent
- £2,065.38
- Annual equivalent
- £24,784.50
These are gross figures before income tax and National Insurance.
What would you actually take home?
£12.71/hour at 37.5 hours a week is about £24,785 gross per year. See what that means after tax and National Insurance.
Minimum wage by nation
The statutory rates are the same across the UK. Use our nation guide for local Living Wage information, market comparisons and help routes.
UK minimum wage per hour from 1 April 2026
| Age / worker type | Hourly minimum | Change from 2025 | Effective date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 and over (National Living Wage) | £12.71 | +£0.50 / +4.1% | 1 April 2026 |
| 18–20 | £10.85 | +£0.85 / +8.5% | 1 April 2026 |
| Under 18 | £8.00 | +£0.45 / +6.0% | 1 April 2026 |
| Apprentice | £8.00 | +£0.45 / +6.0% | 1 April 2026 |
Minimum wage by age
Use an age guide for the rate, school-leaving rules, working-hour limits and pay examples that apply at that stage.
Minimum wage per month and annual salary
The law sets an hourly minimum rather than one fixed monthly or annual amount because your earnings depend on how many hours you work.
| Age / worker type | Hourly rate | Weekly pay (37.5h) | Monthly equivalent | Annual equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 and over | £12.71 | £476.63 | £2,065.38 | £24,784.50 |
| 18–20 | £10.85 | £406.88 | £1,763.13 | £21,157.50 |
| Under 18 | £8.00 | £300 | £1,300 | £15,600 |
| Apprentice | £8.00 | £300 | £1,300 | £15,600 |
How does the apprentice minimum wage work?
The apprentice rate is £8.00/hour. If you are 19 or over and have completed the first year of your apprenticeship, you normally become entitled to the minimum wage rate for your age.
18-year-old apprentice
£8.00/hour20-year-old apprentice
(first year)
£8.00/hour20-year-old apprentice
(completed first year)
£10.85/hour21-year-old apprentice
(completed first year)
£12.71/hourWhich working hours count towards minimum wage?
For hourly paid work, count the time you spend working, required training and travel between work assignments. Ordinary travel between home and work and rest breaks generally do not count. On-call and sleep-in work have specific rules.
Check GOV.UK’s working-time guidanceCould work expenses mean I’m below minimum wage?
Yes. Required uniforms, tools or other job-related costs can reduce the pay that counts towards minimum wage. Tips cannot make up a shortfall. Income Tax and National Insurance are treated differently: take-home pay may be below the gross minimum without breaking minimum-wage rules.
See which payments and deductions countWho is entitled to minimum wage?
Most people with worker status who have reached school-leaving age qualify, including part-time, agency and casual workers. Genuine self-employment, some volunteering and certain placements are exceptions. Your employment status matters more than the title on your contract.
Check eligibility and exceptions on GOV.UKWhat should I do if I’m paid below minimum wage?
- Keep your payslips, working-time records and receipts for required work expenses.
- Ask your employer or payroll team to explain the calculation and correct any shortfall.
- If it remains unresolved, seek confidential advice from Acas or report underpayment to HMRC through the official guidance.
Almost 1 in 10 UK jobs pay around £12.40 an hour
Each point shows jobs paid within 20p of that hourly rate, April 2025.
Jobs out of every 100 paid near this rate
Hourly pay (£)
The £8–£20 line uses overlapping pay ranges and does not total 100%.
- Below £11.97
- 2.5%
- £11.97–£17.96
- 47.5%
- £17.96–£26.94
- 26.8%
- Over £26.94
- 23.2%
ONS cannot use this estimate as a direct measure of non-compliance because eligibility is not always known. £12.21 was the rate in April 2025.
Younger workers are much more exposed to minimum-wage pay
Share of employee jobs paid below the applicable minimum wage, UK, April 2025.
- Aged 16–173.5%
- Aged 18–202.9%
- Aged 21+1.4%
View chart data as a table
| Age | Share of employee jobs |
|---|---|
| Aged 16–17 | 3.5% |
| Aged 18–20 | 2.9% |
| Aged 21+ | 1.4% |
The minimum wage has risen by 76.5% since 2016
National Living Wage, £ per hour. Nominal rates, not adjusted for inflation.
View chart data as a table
| Year | Hourly rate | Age eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | £7.20 | 25+ |
| 2017 | £7.50 | 25+ |
| 2018 | £7.83 | 25+ |
| 2019 | £8.21 | 25+ |
| 2020 | £8.72 | 25+ |
| 2021 | £8.91 | 23+ |
| 2022 | £9.50 | 23+ |
| 2023 | £10.42 | 23+ |
| 2024 | £11.44 | 21+ |
| 2025 | £12.21 | 21+ |
| 2026 | £12.71 | 21+ |
Historical minimum wage changes
The age threshold for the National Living Wage became 21 in April 2024. These rates apply from April in each year shown.
| Effective from | 21 and over | 18–20 | Under 18 | Apprentice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 2026 | £12.71 | £10.85 | £8.00 | £8.00 |
| 1 April 2025 | £12.21 | £10.00 | £7.55 | £7.55 |
| 1 April 2024 | £11.44 | £8.60 | £6.40 | £6.40 |
What’s the difference between the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage?
Both are part of the same statutory wage system. The term National Living Wage refers to the legal minimum for workers aged 21 and over. Workers under 21 are covered by the National Minimum Wage.
What about the “real Living Wage”?
The real Living Wage is voluntary and set by the Living Wage Foundation. It is based on living costs and is higher than the statutory minimum.
| Rate | Amount (per hour) | Is it a legal requirement? | Set by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statutory National Living Wage | £12.71 | Yes, for workers aged 21+ | UK Government |
| Real Living Wage (UK) | £13.45 | No (voluntary) | Living Wage Foundation |
| Real Living Wage (London) | £14.80 | No (voluntary) | Living Wage Foundation |
Statutory rates from 1 April 2026 · GOV.UK. Voluntary rates announced 22 October 2025 · Living Wage Foundation.
Learn more about the real Living WageOther common questions
Is minimum wage before or after tax?
The statutory hourly minimum is gross pay, before Income Tax and National Insurance. The take-home preview uses the same tax calculation as Jobmundo’s Salary Calculator.
Is there a different minimum wage in London?
No. Statutory rates are UK-wide. The higher voluntary London Living Wage is set by the Living Wage Foundation.
Is there a minimum wage for 15 year olds?
There is no statutory rate specifically for 15-year-olds. You must be at least school-leaving age to qualify for the National Minimum Wage, and school-leaving rules differ across the UK.
When do I move to a higher age rate?
A new age-related rate normally applies from the first pay reference period starting on or after your birthday. The same pay-period principle applies to the annual April increase.
Do apprentices always get £8.00 an hour?
No. The apprentice rate applies below age 19, or during the first apprenticeship year. From age 19, after completing that year, the age-based rate applies.
Are the monthly and annual figures guaranteed earnings?
No. They assume the same weekly hours for 52 paid weeks and divide the annual equivalent by 12. Actual pay depends on working patterns, paid leave and the pay period.
Find jobs that pay what you’re looking for
Explore roles with advertised salaries, then compare working hours, experience requirements and take-home pay before you apply.
Search jobs on JobmundoSources and methodology
Reviewed 28 September 2026. Statutory rates are effective from 1 April 2026. Voluntary Living Wage rates were announced on 22 October 2025.
- GOV.UK — National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates
- Low Pay Commission — minimum wage rates for 2026
- Living Wage Foundation — calculation of the 2025/26 rates
- GOV.UK — working hours for minimum wage
- GOV.UK — calculating minimum-wage pay and deductions
Weekly pay = hourly rate × weekly hours. Annual equivalent = weekly pay × 52. Monthly equivalent = annual pay ÷ 12. Each figure is calculated before rounding and displayed to the nearest penny; actual monthly pay may vary.
The take-home estimate uses Jobmundo’s existing 2026/27 salary calculator with standard tax code 1257L, England/Wales/Northern Ireland rates, standard employee National Insurance, 12 equal monthly payments, and no pension or student-loan deductions. Change these assumptions in the full calculator, especially for Scotland or State Pension age. This page estimates standard statutory rates, not individual payroll compliance or sector-specific entitlements.