Minimum wage rates from April 2026
The government accepted the Low Pay Commission's recommendations in full for April 2026. The 18 to 20 rate rose fastest, 8.5%, as a step towards a single adult rate.
Checked 7 September 2026 · gov.uk minimum wage rates
| Rate band | From April 2026 | 2025/26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Living Wage (21 and over) | £12.71 | £12.21 | +4.1% |
| 18 to 20 year olds | £10.85 | £10.00 | +8.5% |
| 16 to 17 year olds | £8.00 | £7.55 | +6.0% |
| Apprentice rate | £8.00 | £7.55 | +6.0% |
The rates are legal minimums per hour worked, enforced by HMRC. Salaried staff are covered too: annual salary divided by contracted hours must clear the rate for every pay reference period.
Where the minimum wage now bites
£12.71 an hour is no longer just a retail and hospitality number. NHS Band 2 pays £12.92 an hour, NJC council pay had to delete its bottom spine point to stay legal, and the big supermarkets now open at £13.10 to £13.28. The statutory floor has effectively become the opening bid for the whole low-paid labour market, public and private.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in the UK right now?
From 1 April 2026 the National Living Wage is £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over. Younger workers get £10.85 (18 to 20) or £8.00 (under 18), and the apprentice rate is also £8.00.
What does £12.71 an hour work out to a year?
About £24,785 a year for a 37.5-hour week, or £26,437 for a 40-hour week, before tax. The government put the full-time annual gain from the 2026 rise at around £900.
Who gets the apprentice rate?
Apprentices under 19, or in the first year of their apprenticeship at any age. After that, the age-based rate applies.
When does the minimum wage next change?
April 2027, following the Low Pay Commission's autumn 2026 recommendations. The government has an ambition to move towards a single adult rate by extending the NLW to 18 to 20 year olds over time, which is why that band got 8.5% this year.