Minimum wage rates from 1 April 2026
The legal minimum you can be paid depends on your age and whether you're an apprentice. These rates apply from 1 April 2026 across the whole of the UK:
| Age or status | Hourly rate from 1 April 2026 | Previous rate |
|---|---|---|
| 21 and over (National Living Wage) | £12.71 | £12.21 |
| 18 to 20 | £10.85 | £10.00 |
| Under 18 | £8.00 | £7.55 |
| Apprentice | £8.00 | £7.55 |
The apprentice rate applies if you're under 19, or if you're 19 or over and in the first year of your apprenticeship. Once you're 19 or over and have finished your first year, you must be paid at least the rate for your age. A 22-year-old in the second year of an apprenticeship is entitled to £12.71.
How the minimum wage calculator works
The calculator picks the right minimum rate from your age and apprentice status. If you're paid weekly, monthly or a yearly salary, it turns your pay into an hourly figure by dividing your yearly pay by the hours you work in a year (hours a week × 52). It then compares that with the minimum and shows what the minimum is worth per week, month and year for your hours.
Minimum a year = minimum hourly rate × hours a week × 52
Worked examples
- Salary check: a 30-year-old on £22,000 a year working 37.5 hours a week works 1,950 hours a year. £22,000 ÷ 1,950 = £11.28 an hour, which is £1.43 an hour below the £12.71 minimum. To meet it, the salary needs to be at least £24,784.50.
- Full-time at the National Living Wage: £12.71 × 37.5 hours = £476.63 a week, or £24,784.50 a year. On 40 hours a week it's £508.40 a week and £26,436.80 a year.
- 18 to 20: a 19-year-old working 20 hours a week must get at least £10.85 × 20 = £217 a week.
Hours that count, and things that don't
Minimum wage is checked over each pay period, using all the time you're required to work. That includes:
- time spent training, or travelling between jobs during the working day
- time you're required to be at work and available, even if there's nothing to do
- unpaid overtime, which is a common reason salaried staff fall below the minimum
Your employer can't count tips, service charges, overtime premiums or most allowances towards the minimum wage. Deductions for things like uniform or tools that take your pay below the minimum aren't allowed either. Free accommodation is the only benefit that can count, up to a daily limit.
What to do if you're underpaid
Talk to your employer first, with your payslips and a record of your hours. If that doesn't work, you can complain to HMRC through the Acas helpline or online. HMRC can make your employer pay back what you're owed at current rates, and fine them up to 200% of the arrears. You can also take a claim to an employment tribunal. There's no fee and you can claim for money owed going back up to two years.
Tips
- You must be paid the new rate from the start of your first full pay period beginning on or after 1 April 2026.
- If you've just had a birthday that moves you up a band, your minimum goes up from your next pay period.
- Workers on piece rates or commission are still covered. Your average pay over the pay period must reach the minimum.
- See what the minimum wage means after tax with the take-home pay calculator, or convert a salary to an hourly rate with the hourly rate calculator. Working extra hours? The overtime calculator adds up overtime pay.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in April 2026?
From 1 April 2026 the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour. The rate for 18 to 20-year-olds is £10.85, and under-18s and apprentices get at least £8.00.
How much is the minimum wage per year for full-time work?
On the National Living Wage of £12.71, a 37.5-hour week works out at £24,784.50 a year and a 40-hour week at £26,436.80, before tax.
What is the apprentice minimum wage in 2026?
£8.00 an hour from 1 April 2026. It applies to apprentices under 19 and to apprentices aged 19 or over in their first year. After the first year, apprentices aged 19 or over get the rate for their age.
Can my employer count tips towards minimum wage?
No. Tips, gratuities and service charges can't be used to make up the minimum wage. By law, employers must also pass all tips to workers without deductions.
Do salaried workers have to get minimum wage?
Yes. Divide your salary by the hours you actually work in a year. If you regularly work unpaid overtime, your effective hourly rate can drop below the minimum, which is illegal.
Last reviewed October 2026 using 2026/27 figures. This calculator gives an estimate for guidance only.