UK minimum wage in context
The minimum wage matters because most people do not think about it as an hourly rate — they think about what it means over a week, a month or a full year. The April 2026 increase pushed the National Living Wage (NLW) for workers aged 21 and over to £12.71 an hour — up £0.50 (4.1%) on the previous rate — lifting full-time annual pay to roughly £24,784 to £26,437, depending on contracted hours.
At that level, a full-time minimum-wage worker sits at around the 15th to 18th percentile of UK full-time earnings — meaning roughly 82–85% of full-time employees earn more. It still sits well below the current UK full-time median of £39,039. That is why this page focuses not just on the official hourly figures, but also on annual salary equivalents, estimated take-home pay and where minimum wage sits in the wider UK earnings picture.
UK minimum wage rates in 2026
These are the statutory minimum wage rates from 1 April 2026, with annual equivalents shown for both 37.5-hour and 40-hour working weeks.
| Category | Hourly rate | Annual (37.5 hrs) | Annual (40 hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21+ (National Living Wage) | £12.71 | £24,784.50 | £26,436.80 |
| 18–20 | £10.85 | £21,157.50 | £22,568.00 |
| 16–17 | £8.00 | £15,600.00 | £16,640.00 |
| Apprentice | £8.00 | £15,600.00 | £16,640.00 |
Minimum Wage Take-Home Pay 2026
These are estimated net figures for a single person with no pension contribution and no student loan, based on England, Wales or Northern Ireland tax settings. They are illustrations using current Income Tax and National Insurance (NI) rates — not payroll quotes. Use the calculator above for a figure based on your own situation.
| Band | Annual gross | Est. monthly net | Est. weekly net | Tax position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21+ National Living Wage (NLW) — 37.5 hr | £24,784.50 | ~£1,750 | ~£404 | Basic-rate taxpayer |
| 21+ National Living Wage (NLW) — 40 hr | £26,436.80 | ~£1,860 | ~£430 | Basic-rate taxpayer |
| 18–20 — 37.5 hr | £21,157.50 | ~£1,570 | ~£362 | Basic-rate taxpayer |
| 16–17 — 37.5 hr | £15,600.00 | ~£1,300 | ~£300 | Below personal allowance — no income tax due |
| Apprentice — 37.5 hr | £15,600.00 | ~£1,300 | ~£300 | Below personal allowance — no income tax due |
Assumptions: England, Wales or Northern Ireland, standard tax code (1257L), no pension contribution, no student loan, paid evenly across the year. The personal allowance is £12,570 — earnings at the 16–17 and apprentice level fall below this threshold, so no income tax applies, though National Insurance may still be due above the weekly earnings threshold (£242/week in 2026/27).
Where minimum wage sits on the UK pay scale
Put the NLW figure alongside the wider earnings distribution and the picture becomes clear. A full-time worker on the 2026 National Living Wage earns around £24,784 a year — placing them at approximately the 15th to 18th percentile of UK full-time earners. In practical terms, roughly four in five full-time employees earn more.
The UK full-time median sits at £39,039 a year (ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), April 2025), making the NLW equivalent to around 63% of median pay. Median weekly full-time pay is £766.60, compared with £476.63 at the NLW rate on a standard 37.5-hour week.
For context on nearby salary levels, our £25k salary guide sits just above the 37.5-hour NLW figure and walks through what that level of pay means day-to-day. The UK average salary page covers how the median and mean figures vary by region, sector and age group.
Minimum wage by age band
21+ National Living Wage (NLW)
At £12.71 an hour, the National Living Wage is the main statutory rate for adults aged 21 and over. On a full-time 37.5-hour contract that is £24,784.50 a year gross, or £26,436.80 on 40 hours. After tax and National Insurance, a single person with no pension or student loan takes home roughly £1,750 a month. If you’re auto-enrolled into a workplace pension, your take-home will be slightly lower — use the calculator above to factor in your contribution rate.
18–20 rate
The 18–20 rate is £10.85 an hour from 1 April 2026, working out at £21,157.50 a year on 37.5 hours before tax. Estimated monthly take-home for a single person with no deductions is around £1,570. One thing worth knowing: the student loan Plan 2 repayment threshold is £25,000 a year — earnings at this level fall well below it, so no student loan deduction applies.
16–17 rate
Workers aged 16 or 17 are entitled to £8.00 an hour from April 2026, giving annual gross pay of £15,600 on a 37.5-hour week. This is below the personal allowance of £12,570 — so no income tax is due at this level. National Insurance may still apply above the weekly earnings threshold (£242/week in 2026/27).
Apprentice rate
The apprentice rate is also £8.00 an hour in 2026. It applies if the apprentice is under 19, or aged 19 and over and still in their first year. After year one, an apprentice aged 19 or over moves onto the rate for their age group — so a 20-year-old apprentice in year two would be entitled to the £10.85 18–20 rate. Like the 16–17 rate, £15,600 a year sits below the personal allowance, meaning no income tax on earnings at this level.
What changed in April 2026
New rates took effect on 1 April 2026. The largest proportional rise went to the 18–20 band, which increased by 8.5%. All rates are set by the government following recommendations from the Low Pay Commission.
| Rate | April 2025 | April 2026 | Change | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21+ National Living Wage | £12.21 | £12.71 | +£0.50 | +4.1% |
| 18–20 | £10.00 | £10.85 | +£0.85 | +8.5% |
| 16–17 and Apprentice | £7.55 | £8.00 | +£0.45 | +6.0% |
National Living Wage vs Real Living Wage
These two terms are easily confused, but they mean different things. The National Living Wage (NLW) is the statutory minimum set by the UK government — it is the legal floor that all employers must pay workers aged 21 and over. In 2026 that is £12.71 an hour.
The Real Living Wage is a separate, voluntary rate calculated independently by the Living Wage Foundation. It is based on what independent researchers calculate people actually need to cover a reasonable standard of living. The current Real Living Wage is £12.60 an hour outside London and £13.85 an hour in London (2024/25 rate — updated annually, typically in November). Employers are not legally required to pay it, but over 15,000 UK businesses are accredited as Real Living Wage employers.
The gap between the two rates has narrowed in recent years as the government has increased the NLW faster than inflation, but the Real Living Wage — especially the London rate — still sits above the statutory floor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in the UK in 2026?▼
From 1 April 2026, the National Living Wage (NLW) for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour. The 18–20 rate is £10.85 an hour, and the 16–17 and apprentice rate is £8.00 an hour.
What is the minimum wage as an annual salary?▼
At £12.71 an hour, the NLW works out at £24,784.50 a year on a 37.5-hour contract or £26,436.80 a year on 40 hours, before tax. The difference between the two contracted-hours figures is £1,652.30 a year — worth factoring in if you’re comparing job offers.
What is minimum wage take-home pay per month?▼
On the 2026 NLW (37.5 hours, £24,784.50 a year), a single person with no pension contribution and no student loan takes home around £1,750 a month net. Pension contributions, student loan repayments and Scotland’s different income tax bands all change this figure — use the calculator above for your own estimate.
What percentile is minimum wage in the UK?▼
A full-time NLW earner sits at approximately the 15th to 18th percentile of UK full-time earnings — meaning roughly 82–85% of full-time employees earn more. The UK full-time median is £39,039 (ONS ASHE, 2025).
When did the minimum wage increase in 2026?▼
The 2026 increase took effect on 1 April 2026. The NLW rose from £12.21 to £12.71 — an increase of £0.50 an hour, or 4.1%. New rates are typically announced in the autumn Budget and confirmed by December.
How much do you earn on minimum wage per week?▼
On the 2026 NLW of £12.71 an hour, a 37.5-hour week generates £476.63 gross. After tax and National Insurance, estimated weekly take-home is around £404 for a basic-rate taxpayer with no other deductions.
What is the minimum wage for under 18s in 2026?▼
Workers aged 16 or 17 are entitled to £8.00 an hour from April 2026 — the same rate as the apprentice rate. Annual earnings of £15,600 (37.5 hours) fall below the £12,570 personal allowance, so no income tax is due, though National Insurance contributions may still apply.
Do apprentices get paid minimum wage?▼
Yes. The 2026 apprentice rate is £8.00 an hour. It applies if the apprentice is under 19, or aged 19 and over but still in their first year of apprenticeship. Once an apprentice turns 19 and completes year one, they are entitled to the rate for their age group — so a 20-year-old in year two would move up to the £10.85 18–20 rate.
Is the National Living Wage the same as the Real Living Wage?▼
No. The NLW (£12.71 in 2026) is the legal minimum set by government. The Real Living Wage is a higher, voluntary rate calculated by the Living Wage Foundation based on actual living costs — currently £12.60 outside London and £13.85 in London. Employers are not required by law to pay it.
Does minimum wage change if you work 40 hours instead of 37.5?▼
The hourly rate stays the same. But working 40 hours instead of 37.5 on the NLW increases annual gross pay from £24,784.50 to £26,436.80 — a difference of £1,652.30 a year, or roughly £138 a month before tax.
Method and sources
Statutory minimum wage rates are sourced from GOV.UK. Income Tax and National Insurance (NI) assumptions use current HMRC rates and allowances for 2026/27. Earnings context and percentile data use the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), April 2025 release. Take-home pay figures are illustrative estimates for a single person in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, on a standard tax code (1257L), with no pension contribution and no student loan deduction. Scotland uses different income tax bands — use the Scotland option in the calculator for Scottish estimates.