Minimum wage in the United Kingdom (2026)

Which UK rate applies to whom

The UK sets one structure for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, split by age rather than region. There is no separate legal rate for London, so a worker there is owed the same GBP 12.71 as one in Leeds; a higher London figure you see quoted is not the legal minimum. Workers aged 18 to 20 are owed GBP 10.85 and those under 18 GBP 8.00. Rates run from April 1 to March 31.

The apprentice rate is where employers slip. GBP 8.00 applies only to apprentices under 19 or in the first year of their apprenticeship. Once an apprentice is 19 or older and past year one, they move to the rate for their age, which for a 21-year-old is a jump to GBP 12.71 on the anniversary.

Other minimum wage rates in United Kingdom

United Kingdom minimum wage history

What GBP 12.71 an hour comes to each month

UK law sets an hourly rate and no standard working week, so monthly pay depends on contracted hours. On a 37.5-hour week: GBP 12.71 x 37.5 x 52 / 12 = GBP 2,065.38 a month (about $2,754), or GBP 24,784.50 a year (about $33,051). On 40 hours a week the year comes to GBP 26,436.80. A single 37.5-hour week at the adult rate is GBP 476.63.

Five years of increases, and April 2027

The adult rate has climbed fast: GBP 9.50 in April 2022, GBP 10.42 in 2023, GBP 11.44 in 2024 (when the age threshold fell from 23 to 21), GBP 12.21 in 2025 and GBP 12.71 now, a 4.1% rise this year. The 18 to 20 rate moved even faster, from GBP 6.83 in 2022 to GBP 10.85. The Low Pay Commission's 2026 remit asks for its April 2027 recommendation by October 2026, and the government usually confirms new rates at the Autumn Budget. Budget for another increase on April 1, 2027.

Employer National Insurance and pension at the minimum

Using HMRC rates for April 6, 2026 to April 5, 2027 and the GBP 24,784.50 salary above:

• Employer Class 1 National Insurance, 15% above GBP 5,000 a year: 15% x (24,784.50 minus 5,000) = GBP 2,967.68.
• Workplace pension, employer minimum 3% of qualifying earnings above GBP 6,240: 3% x (24,784.50 minus 6,240) = GBP 556.34.

Together that is GBP 3,524.01 a year (about $4,699), 14.22% on top of pay. Two rules cut it: employers pay 0% National Insurance up to GBP 50,270 for workers under 21 and apprentices under 25, and an eligible employer can deduct the GBP 10,500 Employment Allowance from its bill. Leave and sick pay rules are on our UK maternity leave page, and typical pay levels on the UK average salary page.

Paying a UK minimum-wage worker from the US

A US company with no UK entity usually hires through an employer of record, which runs PAYE payroll and pension auto-enrollment as the legal employer. On the EOR pricing pages we checked in October 2026, monthly fees per employee start at $99 at Native Teams (its help center says EUR 99) and top out at $699. Deel's $599 a month is $7,188 a year, more than the roughly $4,699 of employer contributions above, so on a low salary the fee is the biggest cost line. Our UK employer of record guide covers notice, redundancy and contracts, the EOR rankings compare providers, and the international cost calculator prices the whole hire. For comparison across countries, see the employer cost index.