What is the least your employer can legally pay you as an apprentice? Enter your age, apprenticeship year and weekly hours to see your minimum hourly, weekly, monthly and annual pay under the April 2026 National Minimum Wage rates.
April 2026 National Minimum Wage
The amount an apprentice must legally be paid depends on your age and whether you are in the first year of your apprenticeship. There is a special apprentice rate, but it only applies to under-19s and to those aged 19 or over who are still in their first year. After that, you move onto the standard minimum wage for your age.
| Rate | Who it applies to | From April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice rate | Under 19, or 19+ in first year | £8.00 |
| 16–17 rate | Apprentices 19+ aged 16–17 past year 1 | £8.00 |
| 18–20 rate | Apprentices aged 18–20 past year 1 | £10.85 |
| 21 and over (National Living Wage) | Apprentices 21+ past year 1 | £12.71 |
Most apprentices earn below the £12,570 Personal Allowance, so they pay no Income Tax, and below the £12,570 National Insurance threshold, so they pay no NI either. If your apprentice pay is higher — for example an older apprentice on the full minimum wage working full time — you may start paying tax and NI; check your take-home with the salary calculator or hourly wage calculator.
From April 2026 the apprentice rate of the National Minimum Wage is £8.00 an hour. It applies to apprentices aged under 19, and to apprentices aged 19 or over who are in the first year of their apprenticeship. After that, apprentices aged 19+ must be paid at least the normal minimum wage for their age.
Once you are aged 19 or over and have completed the first year of your apprenticeship, you are entitled to the full National Minimum Wage for your age band. From April 2026 that is £10.85 an hour for ages 18–20 and £12.71 for ages 21 and over — well above the £8.00 apprentice rate.
Yes. The minimum wage must be paid for all the hours of your apprenticeship, including the time you spend training or studying as part of the apprenticeship, whether that is at college, with a training provider or on the job. Off-the-job training time counts as working time for pay purposes.
An apprentice on the £8.00 rate working 37.5 hours a week earns about £300 a week and roughly £15,600 a year before tax. Most apprentices earn below the £12,570 Personal Allowance and the £12,570 National Insurance threshold, so they often pay no Income Tax or NI.
