National Minimum Wage
National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage
The hourly rate for the minimum wage depends on an employee's age and whether they are an apprentice.
Employees must be at least:
- school leaving age to get the National Minimum Wage
- aged 25 or over to get the National Living Wage (the minimum wage will apply for workers aged 24 and under)
Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they’re either:
- aged under 19
- aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship
Apprentices are entitled to the minimum wage for their age if they:
- are aged 19 or over and
- have completed the first year of their apprenticeship
Rates effective from 1st April 2020
These rates are for the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage. The rates change every April:
| Age 25 and over | £8.72 per hour |
| Age 21 to 24 | £8.20 per hour |
| Age 18 to 20 | £6.45 per hour |
| Aged under 18 | £4.55 per hour |
| An Apprentice | £4.15 per hour |
New rates that will be effective from 1st April 2021
From 1st April 2021, the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage will increase to:
| Aged 23 and over | £8.91 per hour |
| Age 21 to 22 | £8.36 per hour |
| Age 18 to 20 | £6.56 per hour |
| Aged under 18 | £4.62 per hour |
| An Apprentice | £4.30 per hour |
