What is minimum wage for an 18 year old in the UK?

What is the minimum wage for an 18 year old in 2026?

If you are 18 and starting a job or already working, you need to know your legal minimum pay. The answer to what is minimum wage for 18 year old depends on whether you are an apprentice or a standard employee. From April 2026, the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for workers aged 18 to 20 rises to £10.85 per hour. This is an 85p increase (8.5%) on the previous rate of £10.00.

This rate applies to all employees and workers aged 18, 19, and 20 who are not in the first year of an apprenticeship. It is part of the government’s plan to eventually close the gap between the youth rate and the National Living Wage (NLW) for those aged 21 and over, which will be £12.71 per hour.

How the 18–20 rate compares to other age bands

The UK minimum wage system uses age bands to set different hourly rates. Here are the rates from April 2026, as confirmed by GOV.UK guidance:

• National Living Wage (21 and over): £12.71
• 18–20 Year Old Rate: £10.85
• 16–17 Year Old Rate: £8.00
• Apprentice Rate: £8.00 (for apprentices under 19, or aged 19+ in first year)

The 18–20 rate is now 85% of the NLW, up from 82% previously. This means if you are 18, you earn £1.86 less per hour than a colleague aged 21 doing the same job. The government intends to eliminate this age differential over time, but no date has been set.

What counts towards the minimum wage?

Your employer must pay you at least £10.85 for every hour you work. However, certain payments and deductions affect whether you actually receive that amount. According to GOV.UK guidance, the following cannot be included in minimum wage calculations:

• Tips, service charges, and cover charges
• Payments for the employer’s own benefit (e.g. travel to work)
• Things you bought for the job that are not refunded (e.g. tools, uniform)
• Extra pay for unsocial hours

On the other hand, these must be included when checking if you are paid the minimum wage:

• Income Tax and National Insurance contributions
• Wage advances or loans
• Repayment of overpaid wages
• Accommodation provided by the employer above the offset rate (£11.10 per day)

For example, if your employer charges you £15 a week to rent a uniform, that amount is deducted from your pay when calculating whether you are getting the minimum wage. If that deduction brings your hourly rate below £10.85, your employer must top up your pay.

Take-home pay vs hourly rate

The headline rate of £10.85 is your gross pay before any deductions. Your actual take-home pay will be lower because of income tax and National Insurance. For the 2026/27 tax year, the personal allowance is frozen at £12,570, meaning you start paying tax once your earnings exceed that threshold. If you work 35 hours a week at £10.85, your annual gross pay would be about £19,747 – well above the tax threshold, so you will pay some tax and NI.

If you receive Universal Credit, the interaction with minimum wage increases can boost your household income. The Low Pay Commission notes that a full-time worker (35 hours) on the NLW would see a 3.3% increase in weekly take-home pay, but the exact amount depends on your circumstances.

What if you are an apprentice?

If you are 18 and in the first year of your apprenticeship, your minimum wage is £8.00 per hour, not £10.85. After your first year, you must be paid at least the rate for your age band. This rule applies even if you are 21 or over in your first year – you can still be paid the apprentice rate. Always check your apprenticeship agreement.

How to check you are being paid correctly

Use the GOV.UK minimum wage calculator to check your pay. If you think you are being underpaid, speak to your employer first. If they do not correct it, you can contact Acas or report the employer to HMRC. Employers who deliberately underpay can be fined and publicly named.

For more detailed guidance on pay and rights, visit our pay guides or explore topics related to wages and employment.

Summary

From April 2026, the answer to what is minimum wage for 18 year old is £10.85 per hour for standard employees, or £8.00 per hour if you are an apprentice in your first year. These rates are set by law and apply across the UK. Always check your payslip and contract to ensure you are receiving at least the statutory minimum. If you have further questions, see our about page or browse pay data for sector-specific insights.