● National Living & Minimum Wage · by age

Minimum Wage Calculator

See exactly what the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage mean for your pay packet. Pick your age band, enter your weekly hours, and get your weekly and annual gross pay at the current statutory rates.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 All age bands 🗓️ Updated each April 💷 Weekly & annual pay

Calculate minimum wage pay

Current statutory rates · updated each April

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Annual gross pay
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£0/hr · current statutory rate
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Per week£0
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Gross pay before tax. Check your take-home with the salary calculator.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Every age band 🗓️ April-reviewed rates 🏛️ GOV.UK & Low Pay Commission 🔒 Runs entirely in your browser
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Current UK minimum wage rates

The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage are the legal minimum an employer must pay per hour. The rates are set by the Government on advice from the Low Pay Commission and are reviewed and updated every April. The figures below are the current statutory rates — always confirm against GOV.UK, as they change at the start of each tax year.

Age bandHourly rate
21 and over (National Living Wage)£12.21
18 to 20£10.00
Under 18 / Apprentice£7.55
Hourly rate by age band (£) 21+ 18-20 u18/appr 12.21 10.00 7.55
Check the live rate. Statutory minimum wage rates rise every April. We label the figures above as the current rates, but if you are reading this near a tax-year change, verify the exact number on GOV.UK before relying on it for payroll.

Worked example: full-time at the Living Wage

A worker aged 21+ on the £12.21 National Living Wage, working 37.5 hours a week:

  • Weekly: 37.5 × £12.21 = £457.88.
  • Annual (52 weeks): £23,809.50 gross.
  • This sits above the £12,570 Personal Allowance, so some Income Tax and NI apply.

To see what is left after deductions, run the figure through the income tax calculator or the salary calculator.

Who qualifies and key rules

Almost all workers are entitled to at least the minimum wage, including part-time, casual and agency staff. The apprentice rate applies to apprentices under 19, or those over 19 in the first year of their apprenticeship. Tips and service charges cannot count towards minimum wage. If you think you are underpaid, you can report it to HMRC.

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Minimum wage FAQs

What is the National Living Wage?

For workers aged 21 and over it is £12.21 an hour. Statutory rates are reviewed and updated each April, so check GOV.UK for the live figure.

How much is minimum wage per year?

At £12.21 for a 37.5-hour week over 52 weeks, about £23,810 gross. Fewer hours or a younger band give a lower total.

What are the age bands?

21 and over (National Living Wage), 18 to 20, and under-18s/apprentices. Each band has its own statutory hourly rate.

Do I pay tax on the minimum wage?

Only on earnings above the £12,570 thresholds. A full-time minimum wage salary is above that, so some tax and NI apply but much of the pay is tax-free.

Mustafa Bilgic
Reviewed by Mustafa Bilgic
Founder, WebCalculator

Rates taken from HMRC and GOV.UK for the 2026/27 tax year. Estimates only — not personalised advice.