What's the minimum wage for an apprentice in 2026/27 and when does it rise to the full rate?

Full answer

For the 2026/27 tax year the apprentice rate of the National Minimum Wage is £8.00 per hour. This is the same headline figure as the rate for 16–17 year olds. An apprentice qualifies for this lower rate only if they are aged under 19, or are 19 or over but still in the first year of their current apprenticeship. The rate covers all time spent working plus time spent training as part of the apprenticeship. The apprentice rate ends in two circumstances. First, as soon as an apprentice turns 19 and has completed the first year of their apprenticeship, they must be paid the full minimum wage for their age. Second, even before completing a year, an apprentice who is already 19 or older only gets the apprentice rate during year one; after twelve months they move up. So a 25-year-old apprentice, for example, jumps to the National Living Wage of £12.71 per hour once year one is finished, while a 20-year-old who has done a year moves to the 18–20 rate of £10.85. The 21-and-over National Living Wage is £12.71, and the 16–17 rate is £8.00, matching the apprentice rate. These rates are set by the UK government and apply across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so there is no regional variation. Employers must keep records proving they pay at least the correct rate; underpayment can lead to HMRC enforcement, back pay and penalties. Remember the figure is a floor, not a recommendation, and many apprentices are paid more. As a worked example, an apprentice on £8.00 an hour for 37.5 hours a week earns £300 gross weekly, or roughly £15,600 a year, which sits below the £12,570 personal allowance only on a part-year basis, so income tax and National Insurance may still apply across a full year.

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