The UK National Living Wage rose to £12.71 per hour from 1 April 2026 — a 4.1% increase from the previous rate of £12.21. It is the legal minimum for workers aged 21 and over across the UK.
Whether you are an employee wanting to know if you are being paid correctly, an employer making sure your payroll is compliant, or a job seeker comparing minimum wage against roles paying £50,000 or more — this guide gives you all the figures, all the age group rates, and what the changes mean for take-home pay.
Use our free Salary Tax Calculator to work out your take-home pay at the new minimum wage rates.
UK National Living Wage and Minimum Wage Rates — April 2026
From 1 April 2026, the following rates apply (previous rates applied from 1 April 2025). The government accepted the Low Pay Commission's recommendations in full.
| Age Group | Rate from April 2026 | Previous Rate | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 and over (National Living Wage) | £12.71/hour | £12.21/hour | +£0.50 (4.1%) |
| 18 to 20 (National Minimum Wage) | £10.85/hour | £10.00/hour | +£0.85 (8.5%) |
| Under 18 (National Minimum Wage) | £8.00/hour | £7.55/hour | +£0.45 (6.0%) |
| Apprentice rate | £8.00/hour | £7.55/hour | +£0.45 (6.0%) |
💡 Note: The apprentice rate applies to apprentices aged under 19, or aged 19 and over in the first year of their apprenticeship. After the first year, apprentices aged 19 and over are entitled to the minimum wage for their age.
What Is the Difference Between the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage?
These terms are often confused — here is the distinction:
National Living Wage (NLW)
The legal minimum wage for workers aged 21 and over. From 1 April 2026 this is £12.71 per hour. Employers cannot legally pay less.
National Minimum Wage (NMW)
The legal minimum for workers under 21 (from school leaving age) and apprentices. Different rates apply depending on age, as shown in the table above.
Real Living Wage (voluntary — not a legal minimum)
A separate, voluntary rate set by the Living Wage Foundation, a charity, based on the cost of living. Its current rates are £13.45 per hour across the UK and £14.80 in London. Employers choose whether to pay it; the Foundation says over 16,000 UK employers do. New rates are usually announced each autumn — the next on 15 October 2026.
How Much Will You Earn Annually at the New Minimum Wage?
Based on a full-time week of 37.5 hours, 52 weeks a year:
| Age Group | Hourly | Weekly (37.5 hrs) | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 and over | £12.71 | £476.63 | £2,065.38 | £24,784.50 |
| 18 to 20 | £10.85 | £406.88 | £1,763.13 | £21,157.50 |
| Under 18 | £8.00 | £300 | £1,300 | £15,600 |
🧮 These are gross (before tax) figures. To see your take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance, use our free Salary Tax Calculator.
What Is the Take-Home Pay for a Full-Time Worker on the National Living Wage?
At £12.71 per hour (37.5 hours a week), a full-time worker on the National Living Wage earns £24,784.50 a year before tax — close to a £25,000 salary. After income tax and National Insurance in 2026/27:
| Gross annual salary | £24,784.50 |
| Income Tax (20% above £12,570) | −£2,442.90 |
| National Insurance (8% above £12,570) | −£977.16 |
| Take-home pay (annual) | £21,364.44 |
| Take-home pay (monthly) | £1,780.37 |
💡 This uses the standard 2026/27 rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with no pension or student loan. Pension contributions, student loan repayments and Scotland's different income tax rates change the figure. Our Salary Tax Calculator can add student loan repayments, pension contributions and Scottish Income Tax.
The Real Living Wage vs the National Living Wage
| National Living Wage | Real Living Wage | London Living Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set by | UK Government | Living Wage Foundation | Living Wage Foundation |
| Rate | £12.71/hour | £13.45/hour | £14.80/hour |
| Legal requirement? | ✅ Yes — the legal minimum | ❌ No — voluntary | ❌ No — voluntary |
| Who it covers | Workers aged 21 and over | Aged 18 and over | Aged 18 and over, in London |
| When it changes | Each 1 April | New rates usually announced each autumn | New rates usually announced each autumn |
The real Living Wage and London Living Wage are voluntary — no employer is legally required to pay them. The Living Wage Foundation calculates them from what it costs to live and labels the current figures its 2025–26 rates. The next rates are due on 15 October 2026, and the Foundation says accredited employers then have 6 months to bring them in.
Rates from the Living Wage Foundation. For context, a full-time year on the real Living Wage is £26,227.50 — compare a £35,000 salary.
Who Is Entitled to the Minimum Wage?
People classed as ‘workers’ must be at least school leaving age to get the National Minimum Wage, and 21 or over to get the National Living Wage. A contract that pays less is not legally binding.
Entitled to the correct minimum wage
- ✅ Part-time workers
- ✅ Casual labourers, for example someone hired for one day
- ✅ Agency workers
- ✅ Workers and homeworkers paid by the number of items they make
- ✅ Apprentices, trainees and workers on probation
- ✅ Disabled workers, agricultural workers and foreign workers
Not entitled to the minimum wage
- ❌ Self-employed people running their own business
- ❌ Company directors
- ❌ Volunteers or voluntary workers
- ❌ Family members of the employer living in the employer's home
- ❌ Members of the armed forces
- ❌ Workers younger than school leaving age (usually 16)
These are the main groups; GOV.UK lists them all on who gets the minimum wage.
How Much Did the National Living Wage Increase in 2026?
The April 2026 increase was recommended by the Low Pay Commission (LPC) — an independent body that advises the government on minimum wage rates. The government accepted the LPC's recommendations in full.
| New NLW rate | £12.71/hour |
| Previous rate | £12.21/hour |
| Increase | £0.50/hour (4.1%) |
| Annual earnings increase (37.5 hours a week) | +£975/year |
| Effective date | 1 April 2026 |
History of the National Living Wage — How It Has Changed
| From | National Living Wage | Age Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| April 2019 | £8.21/hour | 25 and over |
| April 2020 | £8.72/hour | 25 and over |
| April 2021 | £8.91/hour | 23 and over |
| April 2022 | £9.50/hour | 23 and over |
| April 2023 | £10.42/hour | 23 and over |
| April 2024 | £11.44/hour | 21 and over |
| April 2025 | £12.21/hour | 21 and over |
| April 2026 | £12.71/hour | 21 and over |
The NLW has risen 54.8% since April 2019, when it was £8.21 per hour. The age threshold has also come down — from 25 to 23 in April 2021, then to 21 in April 2024 — so more younger workers are entitled to the top rate.
What If Your Employer Is Not Paying the Minimum Wage?
Every employer is legally required to pay at least the minimum wage for your age group — it's a criminal offence not to. If you think you are being underpaid:
- 1Check your payslip — work out your hourly rate (divide your pay by the hours you worked)
- 2Talk to your employer — you can ask in writing to see your payment records
- 3Call the Acas helpline for free, confidential advice
- 4Complain to HMRC — HMRC enforces the minimum wage and can investigate your employer
If HMRC finds an employer has not been paying the correct rates, any arrears have to be paid back immediately. There will also be a fine, and offenders might be named by the government.
Calculate Your Take-Home Pay at the New Rate
Knowing your hourly rate is just the start. Use our free Salary Tax Calculator to see what you take home after income tax and National Insurance.
- ✅ Enter your annual salary
- ✅ Calculate Income Tax (including Scotland) and National Insurance for 2026/27
- ✅ Add pension contributions by relief at source, net pay or salary sacrifice
- ✅ Include student loan repayments (Plans 1, 2, 4, 5 and Postgraduate)
- ✅ See annual, monthly, weekly and daily take-home pay instantly
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Living Wage in 2026?
The National Living Wage is £12.71 per hour from 1 April 2026, for workers aged 21 and over. That is a 4.1% increase from the previous rate of £12.21.
What is the minimum wage for under 21s in 2026?
Workers aged 18 to 20 are entitled to £10.85 per hour. Workers under 18 (and above school leaving age) and apprentices who are under 19 or in the first year of their apprenticeship are entitled to £8.00 per hour.
Is the National Living Wage the same as the Real Living Wage?
No. The National Living Wage (£12.71/hour) is the legal minimum set by the government. The real Living Wage (£13.45/hour, or £14.80 in London) is a voluntary rate set by the Living Wage Foundation, a charity, based on the cost of living. Employers do not have to pay it; the Foundation says over 16,000 UK employers do.
When did the 2026 minimum wage increase take effect?
The new rates took effect from 1 April 2026.
What is the London minimum wage in 2026?
There is no separate legal minimum wage for London — the National Living Wage of £12.71 applies across the UK. The London Living Wage of £14.80 per hour is a voluntary rate set by the Living Wage Foundation.
How much is the National Living Wage per year?
Working 37.5 hours a week for 52 weeks, the National Living Wage of £12.71/hour comes to £24,784.50 a year before tax.
Can my employer pay me less than the minimum wage?
No. It's a criminal offence for employers not to pay the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage. You can call the Acas helpline for advice or complain to HMRC, which enforces the minimum wage.
Summary — UK Minimum Wage Rates April 2026
| Age Group | Hourly Rate | Annual (37.5hr week) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 and over | £12.71 | £24,784.50 |
| 18 to 20 | £10.85 | £21,157.50 |
| Under 18 | £8.00 | £15,600 |
| Apprentice | £8.00 | £15,600 |
| Real Living Wage (voluntary) | £13.45 | £26,227.50 |
| London Living Wage (voluntary) | £14.80 | £28,860 |
The Real Living Wage and London Living Wage are voluntary rates from the Living Wage Foundation, not legal minimums.
Last updated: 12 October 2026 · Sources: GOV.UK: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates; Low Pay Commission: Minimum wage rates for 2026; GOV.UK: Who gets the minimum wage; GOV.UK: Employers and the minimum wage; HMRC: Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027; GOV.UK: Pay and work rights helpline and complaints; Living Wage Foundation: What is the real Living Wage?
For information only, not tax advice. Figures are estimates for a standard case; your own tax position may differ. Check with the official source or a qualified adviser before making decisions.
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