The UK sets a different legal hourly rate for each age band, so the minimum wage by age can change your pay on your birthday. This guide shows the rate for every age from 16 to 21 and over, what that means per week and per year, and when the higher rate has to start.
At a glance
- Minimum wage by age 16 and 17: £8.00 an hour.
- 18, 19 and 20: £10.85 an hour.
- 21 and over: £12.71 an hour.
- Birthday rule: the higher rate starts from the next pay period after your birthday.
Minimum wage by age: current rates
| Age | Per hour | 20 hours a week | 37.5 hours a week | Full-time year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | £8.00 | £160.00 | £300.00 | £15,600.00 |
| 17 | £8.00 | £160.00 | £300.00 | £15,600.00 |
| 18 | £10.85 | £217.00 | £406.88 | £21,157.50 |
| 19 | £10.85 | £217.00 | £406.88 | £21,157.50 |
| 20 | £10.85 | £217.00 | £406.88 | £21,157.50 |
| 21 and over | £12.71 | £254.20 | £476.63 | £24,784.50 |
Apprentices are paid differently, as explained below. To see your own weekly or monthly pay at any of these rates, use the minimum wage salary calculator.
Minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds
Workers under 18 who are above school leaving age must be paid at least £8.00 an hour. A 16 year old working a 10-hour Saturday and Sunday job earns at least £80 a week, before any tax.
You only become entitled once you are above compulsory school age. In England that is the last Friday in June of the school year you turn 16. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the date is slightly different, so check GOV.UK know when you can leave school.
Young people in England must stay in education or training until 18, but this can be part-time alongside a job of 20 hours or more, so many 16 and 17 year olds do work.
Minimum wage for 18 year olds
At 18 your legal minimum rises to £10.85 an hour, an increase of £2.85 an hour. Full time on 37.5 hours, that is £406.88 a week or £21,157.50 a year.
The same rate applies until your 21st birthday, so the minimum wage for 19 year olds and 20 year olds is the same as for 18 year olds.
Minimum wage for 19 and 20 year olds
If you are 19 or 20 and not an apprentice, you must be paid at least £10.85 an hour. If you are 19 or over and in the first year of an apprenticeship, you can be paid the apprentice rate instead. From the start of your second year, you must get the rate for your age.
Minimum wage for 21 year olds and over
From 21 you are entitled to the National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour, the highest legal rate. There is no further age band, so a 21 year old and a 60 year old doing the same hours are entitled to the same minimum. Full time on 37.5 hours, that is £24,784.50 a year.
Apprentices
The apprentice rate is £8.00 an hour. It applies to apprentices under 19, and to apprentices aged 19 or over in the first year of their apprenticeship. After that, they must be paid at least the minimum wage by age. For example, a 22 year old apprentice gets at least £8.00 in their first year and at least £12.71 after it. Read the full rules in our apprentice pay guide.
When your pay goes up after a birthday
You do not always get the higher rate on the day of your birthday. According to Acas, the new rate starts from the next pay reference period after your birthday. A pay reference period is the period you are paid for, usually a week or a month.
- Paid weekly and your 18th birthday is on a Wednesday: the higher rate starts from your next pay week.
- Paid monthly and you turn 21 on 10 March: the higher rate starts from your April pay period.
If your pay does not rise in the pay period after your birthday, tell your employer. Forgetting to move workers to the next age band is one of the most common minimum wage mistakes.
Next year: minimum wage by age from April 2027
| Age group | Now | From 1 April 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 and 17 | £8.00 | £8.31 |
| 18 to 20 | £10.85 | £11.27 |
| 21 and over | £12.71 | £13.21 |
| Apprentice | £8.00 | £8.31 |
Every age band rises on 1 April 2027. The gap between the 18 to 20 rate and the National Living Wage stays, so turning 21 will still bring a pay rise of more than £1.90 an hour.
Tax on young workers’ pay
Your age does not change how Income Tax works. Most young people on part-time hours earn less than the £12,570 Personal Allowance in a year, so they pay no Income Tax at all.
National Insurance starts from age 16, but only on earnings above £242 a week (£1,048 a month). A 17 year old working 20 hours a week at £8.00 earns £160 a week, so pays no National Insurance either. If tax is taken from your pay by mistake, for example because of an emergency tax code, you can claim it back.
To see the exact figures for your pay, use the monthly take-home pay calculator.
Is the minimum wage different by region?
No. The minimum wage by age is the same across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Some employers pay the voluntary real Living Wage, which has one rate for all workers aged 18 and over and a higher rate in London. Read more in our UK minimum wage guide.
Check your hourly rate
If you are paid a salary or a weekly amount, divide it by your hours to find your hourly rate, then compare it with the table above. The hourly wage calculator does this and tells you if you are below the legal minimum for your age.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage for a 16 year old?
£8.00 an hour, as long as you are above school leaving age. It rises to £8.31 on 1 April 2027.
What is the minimum wage for an 18 year old?
£10.85 an hour, the same as for 19 and 20 year olds.
Do under-16s get the minimum wage?
No. Children below school leaving age are not entitled to the minimum wage, and there are strict rules on the hours and type of work they can do.
Can my employer pay me the apprentice rate after my first year?
Only if you are still under 19. If you are 19 or over and have finished your first year, you must get the minimum wage by age.
Why do younger workers get a lower rate?
The government sets lower rates for younger workers to encourage employers to take on people with less experience. The gap has been narrowing over recent years.
Rates checked against GOV.UK and Acas on 5 November 2026.