National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates
- Admin
- Nov 26
- 2 min read
The hourly rate for the minimum wage depends on your age and whether you’re an apprentice.
You must be at least:
school leaving age to get the National Minimum Wage
aged 21 to get the National Living Wage - the minimum wage will still apply for workers aged 20 and under
Current rates
The rates change on 1 April every year.
21 and over | 18 to 20 | Under 18 | Apprentice | |
April 2025 | £12.21 | £10 | £7.55 | £7.55 |
April 2026 | £12.71 | £10.85 | £8 | £8 |
Apprentices
Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they’re either:
aged under 19
aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship
Example
An apprentice aged 21 in the first year of their apprenticeship is entitled to a minimum hourly rate of £7.55.
Apprentices are entitled to the minimum wage for their age if they both:
are aged 19 or over
have completed the first year of their apprenticeship
Example
An apprentice aged 21 who has completed the first year of their apprenticeship is entitled to a minimum hourly rate of £12.21.
Previous rates
The following rates were for the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage from April 2018.
Rates from 1 April 2024
From 1 April 2024 the National Living Wage has been for those aged 21 and over.
21 and over | 18 to 20 | Under 18 | Apprentice | |
April 2024 | £11.44 | £8.60 | £6.40 | £6.40 |
Rates between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2024
Between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2024 the National Living Wage was for those aged 23 and over.
23 and over | 21 to 22 | 18 to 20 | Under 18 | Apprentice | |
April 2023 to March 2024 | £10.42 | £10.18 | £7.49 | £5.28 | £5.28 |
April 2022 to March 2023 | £9.50 | £9.18 | £6.83 | £4.81 | £4.81 |
April 2021 to March 2022 | £8.91 | £8.36 | £6.56 | £4.62 | £4.30 |
Rates before 1 April 2021
Before 1 April 2021 the National Living Wage was for those aged 25 and over.
25 and over | 21 to 24 | 18 to 20 | Under 18 | Apprentice | |
April 2020 to March 2021 | £8.72 | £8.20 | £6.45 | £4.55 | £4.15 |
April 2019 to March 2020 | £8.21 | £7.70 | £6.15 | £4.35 | £3.90 |
April 2018 to March 2019 | £7.83 | £7.38 | £5.90 | £4.20 | £3.70 |
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