National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates

The hourly rate for the minimum wage depends on your age and whether you’re an apprentice.

This page is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You must be at least:

  • school leaving age to get the National Minimum Wage
  • aged 21 to get the National Living Wage - the minimum wage will still apply for workers aged 20 and under

Current rates

These rates are for the National Living Wage (for those aged 21 and over) and the National Minimum Wage (for those of at least school leaving age). The rates change on 1 April every year.

21 and over 18 to 20 Under 18 Apprentice
April 2024 £11.44 £8.60  £6.40  £6.40 

Apprentices

Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they’re either:

  • aged under 19
  • aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship

Example

An apprentice aged 21 in the first year of their apprenticeship is entitled to a minimum hourly rate of £6.40.

Apprentices are entitled to the minimum wage for their age if they both:

  • are aged 19 or over
  • have completed the first year of their apprenticeship

Example

An apprentice aged 21 who has completed the first year of their apprenticeship is entitled to a minimum hourly rate of £11.44.

Previous rates

The following rates were for the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage from April 2017.

Rates from 1 April 2021

Before 1 April 2024 the National Living Wage was for those aged 23 and over.

23 and over 21 to 22 18 to 20 Under 18 Apprentice
April 2023 to March 2024 £10.42 £10.18 £7.49 £5.28 £5.28
April 2022 to March 2023 £9.50 £9.18 £6.83 £4.81 £4.81
April 2021 to March 2022 £8.91 £8.36 £6.56 £4.62 £4.30

Rates before 1 April 2021

Before 1 April 2021 the National Living Wage was for those aged 25 and over.

25 and over 21 to 24 18 to 20 Under 18 Apprentice
April 2020 to March 2021 £8.72 £8.20 £6.45 £4.55 £4.15
April 2019 to March 2020 £8.21 £7.70 £6.15 £4.35 £3.90
April 2018 to March 2019 £7.83 £7.38 £5.90 £4.20 £3.70

Who gets the minimum wage

Read the information on who is entitled to the minimum wage.

You can use the minimum wage calculator to check whether the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage is being paid.

Contact Acas if you’re not getting the National Minimum Wage and think you should be.

  1. Step 1 Check your business is ready to employ staff

  2. Step 2 Recruit someone

    You need to advertise the role and interview candidates. You can use a recruitment agency to do this or do it yourself.

    1. Find out about recruiting someone yourself on Acas
    2. Find out about using a recruitment agency

    As an employer you must make sure you recruit employees fairly.

    1. Avoid discrimination during recruitment
    2. Make your application process accessible for employees with disabilities or health conditions
  3. and Check they have the right to work in the UK

  4. and Find out if they need a DBS check

    You may need to check someone's criminal record, for example, if they'll be working in healthcare or with children.

    1. Find out if you need a DBS check
    2. How to do a DBS check
  5. Step 3 Check if they need to be put into a workplace pension

    Check if you need to put your employee into a workplace pension scheme:

  6. Step 4 Agree a contract and salary

  7. Step 5 Tell HMRC about your new employee