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Take Home Wage Guide
UK Minimum Wage 2025
The national minimum wage 2025 rate was £12.21 an hour for workers aged 21 and over, applying from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. Workers aged 18 to 20 got £10.00, and under-18s and apprentices got £7.55. These rates were replaced on 1 April 2026 by the current rates.
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2025 rates (sourced)
These are the rates that applied for the year from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, as published by GOV.UK.
| Age or category | Rate 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 | 40-hour week | Per year (40 h × 52) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 and over (National Living Wage) | £12.21 | £488.40 | £25,396.80 |
| 18 to 20 | £10.00 | £400.00 | £20,800.00 |
| Under 18 | £7.55 | £302.00 | £15,704.00 |
| Apprentice | £7.55 | £302.00 | £15,704.00 |
Checking back pay
Use the 2025 rates, not the current ones, to check pay for any hours worked between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026. Work out your average hourly rate for each pay period: total pay for the period, divided by the hours worked in it, after taking off any deduction that was for your employer’s benefit, such as a uniform charge.
If the result is below the rate for your age at the time, you were underpaid and are owed the difference. HMRC investigates minimum wage complaints and can make an employer pay arrears plus a penalty.
Current rates
The rates changed on 1 April 2026. The 21 and over rate went from £12.21 to £12.71, the 18 to 20 rate from £10.00 to £10.85, and the under-18 and apprentice rates from £7.55 to £8.00. Full detail, with weekly and annual equivalents, is on our 2026 minimum wage page, and the official table is on GOV.UK. To see what the current rates leave you after deductions, use the take-home pay calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What will the minimum wage be in 2026 in the UK per hour?
From 1 April 2026 the UK minimum wage is £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over. The 18 to 20 rate is £10.85, and the rate for under-18s and apprentices is £8.00. These replaced the April 2025 rates of £12.21, £10.00 and £7.55. All four figures are published on GOV.UK.
Is the National Minimum Wage going up in 2025?
Yes. The rates rose on 1 April 2025: the 21 and over rate went to £12.21, the 18 to 20 rate to £10.00, and the under-18 and apprentice rates to £7.55. Those were the rates for the whole year to 31 March 2026. Minimum wage rates change on 1 April every year.
Will the minimum wage go up again in April 2026?
Yes, they did. New rates took effect on 1 April 2026: £12.71 for workers aged 21 and over, £10.85 at 18 to 20, and £8.00 for under-18s and apprentices. That was a 50p rise on the adult rate and 85p on the 18 to 20 rate. They run until 31 March 2027.
How much is 40 hours a week minimum wage?
At the current £12.71 rate, 40 hours a week is £508.40 gross, or £26,436.80 a year over 52 weeks. Under the 2025 rate of £12.21 the same hours paid £488.40 a week and £25,396.80 a year, so the increase is worth £1,040.00 gross across a full year at 40 hours.
Will the minimum wage go up again in 2026?
Yes. The rates rose on 1 April 2026, from £12.21 to £12.71 for workers aged 21 and over, from £10.00 to £10.85 at 18 to 20, and from £7.55 to £8.00 for under-18s and apprentices. Rates are reviewed every year and change on 1 April, so the next change is due on 1 April 2027.
Is 12.60 an hour good?
£12.60 an hour is below the current legal minimum for workers aged 21 and over, which is £12.71 from 1 April 2026. It was above the £12.21 rate that applied through to 31 March 2026. For a worker aged 18 to 20, £12.60 is well above the £10.85 minimum for that age band.
Is 25k a low salary in the UK?
£25,000 is close to full-time minimum wage pay rather than clearly above it. At the current £12.71 rate, 37.5 hours a week for 52 weeks is £24,784.50, so £25,000 is £215.50 more. That is about £12.82 an hour on a 37.5-hour week. After Income Tax and National Insurance, £25,000 leaves £21,519.60 a year, roughly £1,793 a month.
Sources
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Estimates only, not financial or tax advice. Rates from GOV.UK; check your payslip and HMRC for your own tax code.