UK Minimum Wage 2026: Rates by Age and What You Should Be Paid
By Wealthvieu
·
Updated
The UK National Living Wage is £11.44/hour for workers 21 and over. Here’s what you should be paid based on your age.
Minimum Wage Rates 2026/27
| Age |
Hourly Rate |
| 21 and over (National Living Wage) |
£11.44 |
| 18-20 |
£8.60 |
| Under 18 |
£6.40 |
| Apprentice |
£6.40 |
Apprentice rate applies to apprentices under 19, or in first year regardless of age.
Annual Salary at Minimum Wage
Full-Time (37.5 hours/week)
| Age |
Weekly |
Monthly |
Annual |
| 21+ |
£429 |
£1,859 |
£22,308 |
| 18-20 |
£323 |
£1,398 |
£16,770 |
| Under 18 |
£240 |
£1,040 |
£12,480 |
| Apprentice |
£240 |
£1,040 |
£12,480 |
Common Working Hours
| Hours/Week |
Age 21+ Monthly |
Age 21+ Annual |
| 16 |
£794 |
£9,530 |
| 20 |
£992 |
£11,914 |
| 30 |
£1,488 |
£17,871 |
| 37.5 |
£1,859 |
£22,308 |
| 40 |
£1,983 |
£23,795 |
Recent Minimum Wage History
| Year |
NLW (21+) |
% Increase |
| 2020 |
£8.72 |
6.2% |
| 2021 |
£8.91 |
2.2% |
| 2022 |
£9.50 |
6.6% |
| 2023 |
£10.42 |
9.7% |
| 2024 |
£11.44 |
9.8% |
| 2025 |
£11.44 |
0% |
What Counts as Working Time
You Must Be Paid For
| Activity |
Paid? |
| Time at workplace working |
✓ |
| Training required by employer |
✓ |
| Travel for work (not commuting) |
✓ |
| Waiting to work at workplace |
✓ |
| On-call at workplace |
✓ |
| Working during breaks |
✓ |
You Don’t Have to Be Paid For
| Activity |
Paid? |
| Commuting home to work |
✗ |
| Breaks (if not working) |
✗ |
| On-call from home |
✗* |
| Training you choose to do |
✗ |
*Unless called in.
Deductions That Can Reduce Pay
Legal Deductions (Do NOT Reduce Minimum Wage Calculation)
| Deduction |
Affects Min Wage? |
| Tax (PAYE) |
No |
| National Insurance |
No |
| Pension (auto-enrolment) |
No |
| Student loan |
No |
| Court orders |
No |
Deductions That DO Count
| Deduction |
Affects Min Wage? |
| Uniform you must buy |
Yes |
| Equipment charges |
Yes |
| Accommodation above limit |
Yes |
| Till shortages |
Yes |
| Damage charges |
Yes |
These reduce your “pay for minimum wage purposes.”
Accommodation Offset
If employer provides accommodation:
| Item |
Amount (2026/27) |
| Maximum daily offset |
£10.66 |
| Maximum weekly offset |
£74.62 |
| Over this amount |
Counts as deduction |
Example: Employer charges £100/week for accommodation → £74.62 is the offset, £25.38 reduces your effective pay.
Who Gets Minimum Wage
Entitled to Minimum Wage
| Worker Type |
Entitled? |
| Full-time employees |
✓ |
| Part-time employees |
✓ |
| Zero-hours contracts |
✓ |
| Agency workers |
✓ |
| Casual workers |
✓ |
| Piece workers |
✓* |
*Must average minimum wage.
NOT Entitled to Minimum Wage
| Person |
Entitled? |
| Self-employed (genuine) |
✗ |
| Company directors |
✗ |
| Family members (certain situations) |
✗ |
| Work experience students (under 1 year) |
✗ |
| Volunteers |
✗ |
| Armed forces |
✗ |
Tips and Minimum Wage
| Situation |
Counts Toward Min Wage? |
| Tips paid through employer (since 2009) |
No |
| Tips on card (Oct 2024+) |
No |
| Service charges (allocated to staff) |
No |
| Cash tips kept by workers |
N/A |
Tips must be paid on top of minimum wage.
Checking Your Pay
Simple Calculation
Total pay ÷ Total hours = Your hourly rate
If below minimum wage for your age = underpayment.
Complex Situations
| Scenario |
How to Check |
| Salary + deductions |
(Salary - certain deductions) ÷ hours |
| Piece work |
Average per hour over pay period |
| Sleep-in shifts |
Check if “working” or sleeping |
What If You’re Underpaid
Steps to Take
- Calculate — Work out if you’re truly underpaid
- Speak to employer — Could be genuine error
- Contact ACAS — Free advice: 0300 123 1100
- Report to HMRC — If employer won’t fix
- Tribunal — As last resort
HMRC Enforcement
| Action |
Consequence |
| Underpayment |
Employer pays arrears |
| Penalty |
Up to 200% of arrears |
| Naming and shaming |
Public list of offenders |
| Criminal prosecution |
Rare, serious cases |
Living Wage vs Minimum Wage
| Wage |
2026/27 |
Who Sets It |
| National Living Wage |
£11.44 |
Government (legal minimum) |
| Real Living Wage (UK) |
~£12.00 |
Living Wage Foundation |
| Real Living Wage (London) |
~£13.15 |
Living Wage Foundation |
Real Living Wage is voluntary but ~15,000 employers pay it.
Take-Home Pay Calculation
£11.44/hour, 37.5 hours/week
| Item |
Annual |
| Gross salary |
£22,308 |
| Income tax |
£1,948 |
| National Insurance |
£799 |
| Take-home |
£19,561 |
Monthly take-home: ~£1,630
Bottom Line
| Age |
Hourly |
Full-Time Annual (Gross) |
Take-Home |
| 21+ |
£11.44 |
£22,308 |
~£19,500 |
| 18-20 |
£8.60 |
£16,770 |
~£15,500 |
| Under 18 |
£6.40 |
£12,480 |
~£12,200 |
Key points:
- Minimum wage is law — you must be paid at least this
- Check your age band applies correctly
- Certain deductions can’t reduce your pay below minimum
- Tips are on top, not part of minimum wage
- Report underpayment to HMRC if employer won’t fix