Answers · UK 2025/26
How is the National Living Wage calculated for part-time workers in the UK?
The National Living Wage is an hourly rate, so part-time workers are entitled to exactly the same rate as full-time workers -- GBP 12.71 per hour for those aged 21 and over in 2026/27 -- applied only to the hours they actually work.
Full answer
National Living Wage for Part-Time Workers -- How It Works The National Living Wage (NLW) is a statutory minimum hourly rate, not an annual salary. This means part-time workers receive the same hourly protection as full-time workers, and their total pay simply reflects the number of hours worked. 2026/27 National Minimum Wage rates - Age 21 and over (NLW): GBP 12.71 per hour - Age 18 to 20: GBP 10.85 per hour - Age 16 to 17 and apprentices (first year): GBP 8.00 per hour How pay is calculated For a part-time worker aged 21+ working 20 hours per week: - Hourly rate: GBP 12.71 - Weekly pay: 20 x GBP 12.71 = GBP 254.20 - Monthly pay (average): GBP 254.20 x 52 / 12 = GBP 1,101.87 - Annual pay: GBP 254.20 x 52 = GBP 13,218.40 For a part-time worker on 15 hours per week: - Annual pay: 15 x GBP 12.71 x 52 = GBP 9,913.80 Legal entitlement Employers must pay at least the NLW for every hour worked, including: - Overtime (unless a higher rate applies) - Time spent travelling between work sites during the working day - Mandatory training time - On-call time when the worker must be present at the workplace What does not count toward NLW calculation - Tips and gratuities (cannot be counted toward minimum wage since April 2024) - Overtime premium (only the base element counts) - Accommodation provided by the employer (though an 'accommodation offset' of GBP 10.66/day applies) Holiday pay for part-time workers Part-time workers are entitled to the same pro-rata holiday as full-time workers: 5.6 weeks per year. For a 20-hour-per-week worker, that is 5.6 x 20 = 112 hours of paid holiday at GBP 12.71 per hour = GBP 1,423.52 per year. Zero-hours and variable hours workers Workers on zero-hours contracts or variable hours are entitled to NLW for each hour recorded. Since 2024, employers must offer guaranteed hours contracts to workers who have been employed for 26 weeks or more where hours are regular and predictable -- though this is separate from the pay rate itself. Enforcement HMRC enforces NLW compliance. Employers who underpay face back-pay obligations, fines of up to GBP 20,000 per worker, and potential public naming and shaming. Workers can report underpayment to Acas or directly to HMRC.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.