How the minimum wage works from April 2026
Last updated:
Almost every worker in the UK must be paid at least a minimum hourly rate. The rate depends on your age and whether you are an apprentice. It applies however you are paid, including by salary or by the piece, and however small your employer is. The rates change on 1 April each year.
Rates from 1 April 2026
- Aged 21 and over (the National Living Wage): £12.71 an hour
- Aged 18 to 20: £10.85 an hour
- Under 18: £8.00 an hour
- Apprentices: £8.00 an hour
The apprentice rate applies if you are under 19, or if you are 19 or over and in the first year of your apprenticeship. After that you get the rate for your age. An apprentice aged 21 who has finished their first year is entitled to £12.71.
Who is not covered
You must be at least school leaving age, which is usually 16. Self-employed people running their own business, company directors, volunteers and members of the armed forces are not entitled to the minimum wage. Nor are family members who live in the employer's home.
What counts towards your pay
The minimum wage is measured on your pay before income tax and National Insurance. Some things are left out when checking it:
- tips, service charges and cover charges
- extra pay for working unsocial hours on a shift
- anything you had to buy for the job and were not refunded for, such as tools, uniform or safety equipment
So if your employer charges you for a uniform, that money comes off your pay before it is compared with the minimum. A rate that looks legal on paper can fall below it.
What counts as working time
Time you are required to be at work counts, as does training and travel between jobs during the day. Rest breaks and travel between home and work do not. If you regularly work extra hours without pay, the same pay is spread over more hours, which can also take you below the minimum.
Worked examples
Aged 22 and paid £11.50 an hour
The minimum at 22 is £12.71, so you are £1.21 an hour short. Over 37.5 hours that is £45.38 a week you are owed.
A uniform charge
You are 27, work 40 hours a week at £13.00 an hour and pay £15 a week for a uniform. Your pay is £520, but only £505 counts. Divided by 40 hours, that is £12.63 an hour, which is under £12.71.
Unpaid extra hours
You are paid £13.00 an hour for 37.5 hours, which is £487.50 a week, but you work 40 hours. Spread over 40 hours your pay is £12.19 an hour, which is under £12.71.
Common questions
How do I report being paid less than the minimum wage?
Talk to your employer first. If that does not fix it, you can ask in writing to see your pay records. You can call the Acas helpline for confidential advice, or make a complaint to HMRC using the online form on gov.uk. You can also complain on someone else's behalf.
What happens after a complaint?
If HMRC finds you were underpaid, it sends your employer a notice to pay the arrears, plus a fine. If the employer still refuses, HMRC can take them to court on your behalf. You can also go to an employment tribunal yourself.
I am paid a salary. Does the minimum wage still apply?
Yes. Work out your pay for the period and divide it by the hours you worked to get an hourly rate.
Is the National Living Wage the same as the real Living Wage?
No. The National Living Wage is the legal minimum for people aged 21 and over. The real Living Wage is a higher, voluntary rate set by the Living Wage Foundation, which employers choose to pay.
Where these figures come from
See gov.uk for the minimum wage rates, who gets the minimum wage and what counts towards it, what counts as working time and how to complain about pay and work rights.