Answers · UK 2025/26
What is the minimum wage in 2026 in the UK?
The National Living Wage is £12.71 an hour for 2026/27, paid to workers aged 21 and over. Younger workers and apprentices receive lower National Minimum Wage rates. A full-time worker on £12.71 earns roughly £24,500 a year before tax.
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For the 2026/27 tax year the National Living Wage — the statutory minimum for workers aged 21 and over — is £12.71 an hour. Lower National Minimum Wage rates apply to younger workers and apprentices, increasing as they get older. The rate is set by the UK Government and applies uniformly across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; it should not be confused with the voluntary "real Living Wage" set by the Living Wage Foundation, which is higher. Worked example: a full-time employee working 37 hours a week at £12.71 earns 37 × £12.71 × 52 = £24,453 a year gross. After the £12,570 Personal Allowance, they pay 20% Income Tax and 8% National Insurance on the balance, leaving take-home of roughly £21,000. Employers must pay at least the minimum wage for every hour worked, including training time, and deductions that take pay below the threshold are unlawful. If you are paid hourly, multiply your hours by £12.71 and compare against your payslip. Use the Take-Home Pay calculator to convert an hourly minimum wage into annual and monthly net pay.
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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.