Minimum Wage UK 2026: Rates by Age Explained

Minimum wage rates change every April, and the age band you fall into can genuinely change your hourly pay by several pounds. Here's exactly what applies to you in 2026, and what to do if your payslip doesn't match up.

What Is the Minimum Wage in the UK in 2026?

These are the legal minimum rates set by the UK government:

These figures come directly from the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2026, which took effect on 1 April 2026 following the Low Pay Commission's annual recommendation. Working full time (37.5 hours a week) at £12.71 an hour works out to roughly £24,785 a year before tax — use the Salary Calculator UK or Income Tax Calculator UK to see your actual take-home pay.

National Living Wage vs. National Minimum Wage: What's the Difference?

These two terms get mixed up constantly, but the distinction is simple:

• National Living Wage (NLW) – the legal minimum rate for workers aged 21 and over. This is the highest rate and the one most full-time adult workers are entitled to.
• National Minimum Wage (NMW) – the umbrella term for the lower statutory rates covering workers under 21 and apprentices.

Both are legally binding. An employer can't get around either one, even if a worker agrees in writing to accept less.

What Is the Minimum Wage for Apprentices in 2026?

Apprentices are entitled to at least £8.00 an hour from April 2026, but only under specific conditions:

• If they are under 19, regardless of how long they've been in their apprenticeship, or
• If they are 19 or over but still in the first year of their apprenticeship.

Once an apprentice turns 19 and has completed the first year of their apprenticeship, they move onto the standard rate for their age group — which could mean a jump straight to £10.85 or even £12.71 an hour, depending on their age.

What Is the Accommodation Offset in 2026?

If an employer provides living accommodation, they're allowed to count some of its value against the minimum wage. From April 2026, the accommodation offset is £11.10 per day (£77.70 a week), up from £10.66. If the accommodation costs more than this to the worker, the difference is deducted from their pay for minimum wage purposes; if it's provided free, the offset amount is effectively added back on when checking compliance.

Who Is Entitled to the Minimum Wage?

Almost all workers in the UK are legally entitled to at least the minimum wage for their age, including full-time, part-time, casual, and agency workers. A few groups are treated differently or excluded, including:

• Genuinely self-employed people running their own business.
• Company directors.
• Volunteers and certain work experience placements.
• Family members working in a family business who live in the family home.

What If You're Not Being Paid the Minimum Wage?

If your pay doesn't add up:

1. Check your rate against the table above using your age and the current date your pay covers.
2. Speak to your employer or manager — sometimes it's a straightforward payroll error rather than a deliberate underpayment.
3. Contact Acas for free, confidential advice if raising it directly doesn't resolve things.
4. Report it to HMRC, or to the new Fair Work Agency, which launched in April 2026 as a single enforcement body covering minimum wage, holiday pay, and statutory sick pay, and can investigate proactively rather than only responding to complaints.

CalZone's Payslip Calculator UK is a useful way to double-check exactly what should be appearing on your payslip once tax and National Insurance are accounted for.

Minimum Wage and Other UK Pay Entitlements

Minimum wage is only one part of your statutory pay rights. It's worth checking these alongside it:

• Sick pay – if you're off ill, check what you're owed with the Sick Pay Calculator UK.
• Holiday pay – statutory annual leave still accrues at minimum wage jobs; see the Holiday Pay Calculator UK.
• Overtime – minimum wage rules apply to your average hourly rate across a pay period, not just your basic hours; check with the Overtime Pay Calculator UK.