National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage - rates and overview
National Living Wage
Guidance
The National Living Wage is for workers aged 21 years old and above. The current rate is £12.71 per hour. This rate applies from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
National Minimum Wage
The National Minimum Wage (NMW) applies to workers aged below 21 years old, and there are a number of different bands of hourly rate:
- NMW for 18-20 years old is £10.85
- NMW for 16-17 years old is £8.00
- NMW for apprentices is £8.00
For further information, see National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates.