How much is the apprentice minimum wage in 2026/27?

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The apprentice minimum wage rate is one of the more commonly misunderstood minimum wage categories, since eligibility depends on both age and length of time in the apprenticeship, not just age alone. **The 2026/27 rate** The apprentice rate is £8.00 an hour from April 2026, a 6% increase from the previous rate, and applies specifically to apprentices who meet the eligibility conditions below -- notably, this is the same rate as the 16-17 age band for 2026/27, reflecting alignment between these two lower minimum wage categories. **Who qualifies for the apprentice rate** The apprentice rate applies to: apprentices aged under 19 of any kind, OR apprentices aged 19 or over who are in the FIRST YEAR of their apprenticeship. Once an apprentice turns 19 AND has completed their first year, they move onto the full National Minimum/Living Wage rate for their age band, not the flat apprentice rate. **Why this creates a step change in pay** A 19-year-old apprentice starting their apprenticeship is initially entitled to only the £8.00 apprentice rate. Once they complete their first year (even though they may still be relatively early in a longer apprenticeship programme), their entitlement jumps to whatever the standard age-based minimum wage is at that point -- for someone 21 or over, that would be the full £12.71 National Living Wage, a substantial pay increase employers must apply correctly. **A 16-17 year old apprentice example** A 17-year-old starting an apprenticeship is entitled to the £8.00 apprentice rate. If their apprenticeship runs multiple years and they turn 18 partway through their SECOND year, they would then need to be paid at least the 18-20 rate (£10.85) from that point, since they are no longer in their first year and are now over 18. **What counts as an apprenticeship for these purposes** To qualify for the specific apprentice rate, the arrangement must be a genuine, formally recognised apprenticeship with a training element, not simply a junior job title -- genuine apprenticeships typically involve a formal apprenticeship agreement and off-the-job training alongside paid work. **Worked example** A 20-year-old apprentice in their first year works 37 hours a week at the apprentice rate: £8.00 × 37 = £296 a week, roughly £15,392 a year before tax. If they are still an apprentice a year later but have now completed their first year (still aged 20), their employer must increase their pay to at least the 18-20 rate of £10.85 an hour -- a jump to roughly £401.45 a week. **Practical tip** Employers and apprentices should both track the exact anniversary of the apprenticeship start date carefully, since the pay rate must increase automatically once the apprentice both turns 19 (if not already) and completes their first year -- missing this transition is a common minimum wage compliance error that HMRC actively investigates.

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