UK Minimum Wage 2026: Hourly, Monthly and Yearly Rates

The UK minimum wage 2026 rate is £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over, and the new rates took effect on 1 April 2026. That's 50p more than last year's £12.21. Workers aged 18 to 20 get £10.85. Workers under 18 and apprentices get £8.00.

Job searchers want more than the hourly figure. They want to know what it adds up to in a month and in a year. So this post covers both.

What's the UK minimum wage 2026 rate for each age group?

Two names cause most of the confusion. The National Living Wage is the rate for workers aged 21 and over. The National Minimum Wage covers younger workers and apprentices. Both went up on 1 April 2026. These are the official UK minimum wage 2026 rates:

Age group	Rate from April 2025	Rate from April 2026	Increase
21 and over (National Living Wage)	£12.21	£12.71	4.1%
18 to 20	£10.00	£10.85	8.5%
16 to 17	£7.55	£8.00	6.0%
Apprentice	£7.55	£8.00	6.0%

The 18 to 20 rate jumped the most. The government has said it wants to bring that group in line with the adult rate over time, and I'll come back to that below.

Apprentices get the £8.00 rate if they're under 19 or in their first year. After that, they move to the rate for their age.

Who decides the rate each year?

An independent body called the Low Pay Commission advises the government, and for 2026 the government accepted its advice in full. Its main reference point is two-thirds of median hourly earnings, a common measure of low pay. For 2026, its central estimate for that benchmark was £12.71, so the final rate matched it.

Other factors count too. The Commission looks at the job market, the cost of living and the impact on businesses. That's why the final number isn't pure maths.

How much is that per week, month and year?

The figures below assume 37.5 hours a week for 52 weeks, before tax and National Insurance.

Age group	Weekly	Monthly	Yearly
21 and over	£476.63	£2,065.38	£24,784.50
18 to 20	£406.88	£1,763.13	£21,157.50
16 to 17 and apprentices	£300.00	£1,300.00	£15,600.00

Full-time hours vary. On 40 hours a week, someone aged 21 or over earns £508.40 a week, £2,203.07 a month and £26,436.80 a year. On 35 hours, that's £1,927.68 a month and £23,132.20 a year.

I rounded to the nearest penny. Your payslip can differ because of unpaid breaks, overtime and how your employer counts hours.

Is the UK minimum wage 2026 the same as the real Living Wage?

No. The real Living Wage is a separate, voluntary rate. Employers sign up to pay it, and it's usually higher than the legal floor. The UK minimum wage 2026 is the legal minimum, and every employer in the country has to pay at least that.

Why are people searching for the 20 and 21 year old rate?

The gap at 21 is £1.86 an hour. On 37.5 hours a week, that's £3,627 a year. A 20 year old earns at least £10.85 an hour, and on their 21st birthday the legal floor rises to £12.71.

Policy offers a likely reason. In March 2026, the government told the Low Pay Commission it remains committed to removing age bands for 18 to 20 year olds. The Commission's November 2025 evidence also proposed bringing 20 year olds into the adult rate in 2027. Nothing is final yet.

What will the minimum wage be in April 2027?

Nobody knows the final number yet. The Low Pay Commission estimated a National Living Wage between £13.02 and £13.34 for April 2027. Its central estimate is £13.18, a 3.7% rise, and it calls those figures indicative only.

The government asked the Commission for its recommendation by October 2026.

Last year, the new rates were announced alongside the Budget, so a similar timing is likely again.

How do you check you're being paid correctly?

Start with your age on the first day of your pay period. Then divide your gross pay for that period by the hours you worked. If the result is below the rate for your age, you may be underpaid.

One odd week can mislead, so look at a few pay periods. If the gap is real, raise it with your employer first. If that doesn't work, you can report it to HMRC or get free advice from Acas.

FAQ:

What is the UK minimum wage per hour?

It's £12.71 for workers aged 21 and over, £10.85 for ages 18 to 20, and £8.00 for under 18s and apprentices.

What is the UK minimum wage per month?

On a 37.5 hour week, workers aged 21 and over earn £2,065.38 a month before tax. The 18 to 20 rate gives £1,763.13, and the £8.00 rate gives £1,300.00.

Are the rates the same in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Yes. The rates apply across the whole UK, and they change on 1 April each year.