Legal minimum rates from 1 April 2026
- National Living Wage, 21 and over: £12.71 an hour
- 18 to 20: £10.85 an hour
- 16 and 17: £8.00 an hour
- Apprentices under 19, or in the first year of an apprenticeship: £8.00 an hour
- Accommodation offset: £11.10 a day
What it means for a week
On a 37.5-hour week, the legal minimum is £476.63 at 21 and over, and £406.88 at 18 to 20. Over a full-time year at 21 and over that's about £24,785 before tax.
The government plans to extend the National Living Wage to 20-year-olds and then to 18 and 19-year-olds over the next few years, so the gap between the age bands is closing.
The Real Living Wage
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate worked out by the Living Wage Foundation from the cost of living. The rates announced on 14 October 2026 are £14.10 an hour across the UK and £15.45 in London. Accredited employers have until 1 May 2027 to start paying them.
It isn't the law, but accredited employers commit to paying it to their own staff and to regular contractors on their sites. On a full-time year it's worth about £2,710 more than the legal minimum, or £5,343 more in London.
How the minimum is checked
The minimum wage isn't checked shift by shift. It's checked across each pay reference period, usually a week or a month. Your employer adds up the pay that counts, takes off certain deductions, and divides by the hours you worked in that period.
- Counts towards the minimum: basic pay, bonuses, and the accommodation offset if accommodation is provided
- Doesn't count: tips and service charges, premiums for overtime or shifts above your basic rate, expenses such as mileage, and benefits in kind
- Reduces your pay for the check: deductions or payments for things connected with the job, such as uniform, tools, licences or required training
Hours that count
- Time you're required to be at work, including briefings, handovers and security searches
- Travel between assignments for the same employer during the working day
- Required training
- Time on call at your workplace, unless you're at home
- Not: your normal commute, rest breaks, or time asleep on a sleep-in
If your rate changes mid-period
New rates apply from the start of the first pay period that begins on or after 1 April. If you have a birthday that moves you into a higher band, the new rate applies from the start of the next pay period.
Keep your own record
With Shiftaan you can mark each shift paid, part-paid or disputed, and see what every employer still owes you. It's free for up to 3 companies.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in 2026?
£12.71 an hour at 21 and over, £10.85 at 18 to 20, and £8.00 at 16 and 17, from 1 April 2026.
Is the Real Living Wage a legal requirement?
No. It's a voluntary rate that accredited employers commit to paying.
Do tips count towards the minimum wage?
No. Your pay must reach the minimum without tips or service charge.
Can my employer pay me less if I agree?
No. You can't agree to be paid less than the legal minimum.