Pay floors across the United Kingdom increased on 1 April 2026, benefiting 2.7 million workers. The government implemented separate rates depending on age and employment status, with the highest increases going to younger workers and apprentices.
What is the National Living Wage and what do workers earn?
From 1 April 2026, employees aged 21 and over on the National Living Wage receive £12.71 per hour, representing a 50p increase from the previous year. For a full-time worker on 37.5 hours per week, this translates to annual earnings of £24,784.50—a rise of £900 compared to 2025.
What are the rates for younger workers?
Workers aged 18 to 20 saw their hourly rate climb to £10.85, an 85p increase. Over a full-time year, this amounts to £1,500 additional income. The government has stated its intention to eventually eliminate this separate age bracket and establish a single adult rate across all workers.
Teenagers aged 16 and 17 now earn £8 per hour, also reflecting the April 2026 uprating.
How much do apprentices earn?
Apprenticeship pay varies by age and stage of training. Those aged 16 to 18 receive the National Minimum Wage rate for their age group, currently £8 per hour. Apprentices aged 19 or in their first year of training are also paid £8 per hour.
Once apprentices turn 19 and have completed their first year, they become entitled to the appropriate National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate based on their age.
Who is excluded from minimum wage protections?
Several categories of workers fall outside the scope of National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage legislation. These include the self-employed, company directors, volunteers, members of the armed forces, and prisoners.
People with disabilities or experiencing long-term unemployment who participate in government work schemes receive fixed payments at different programme stages. These amounts fall below the equivalent minimum or living wage rates.
Are employers legally required to pay these rates?
Yes. Failure to pay the correct National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage to eligible employees constitutes a criminal offence. The rates apply regardless of whether workers are paid hourly, weekly, or on another basis.
What penalties do employers face for non-compliance?
The government has significantly strengthened enforcement. In March 2026, 389 employers had been fined approximately £12.6 million for underpaying staff, and were required to repay £7.3 million in arrears to around 60,000 affected workers. Named firms included the nursery chain Busy Bees, Norwich City Football Club, Hays Travel, and Costa Coffee.
More recent enforcement action shows the scale of the problem. According to government figures released on 3 September 2026, nearly 660 employers had been named for failing to pay minimum wage. More than 27,000 workers received approximately £4 million in back pay, while employers faced £7 million in penalties.
According to workplace advisory service Acas, enforcement authorities can pursue up to six years of back pay and issue fines reaching £20,000 per affected worker. Employees seeking redress through employment tribunal have a deadline of three months minus one day from the date of underpayment.
From 7 April 2026, the Fair Work Agency assumed responsibility for enforcing minimum wage law, replacing the previous enforcement body.
What is the Real Living Wage?
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary standard set by the Living Wage Foundation charity, calculated to reflect actual living costs rather than statutory minimums. It differs from the legal National Living Wage and is not compulsory for employers.
Nearly 500,000 employees working for almost 17,000 firms currently receive the voluntary Real Living Wage. In October 2026, the foundation announced increases: the UK rate rose by 4.8% to £14.10 per hour, while the London Living Wage for capital workers increased by 4.4% to £15.45 per hour.
The Living Wage Foundation calculates that the voluntary rate delivers over £2,700 more annually than the legal minimum wage nationally, and more than £5,300 extra in London.
What happens next?
The Low Pay Commission is scheduled to recommend minimum wage rates for April 2027 later in 2026. The government accepted the commission's recommendations in full on 26 November 2025, following their submission on 27 October 2025.
Employers can calculate whether they are paying correctly using government tools, and workers who believe they are underpaid can lodge complaints through official channels or seek advice from workplace support organisations.
