Minimum Wage To Rise to £12.71 per hour from April 2026

26th November 2025

The UK's National Living Wage (NLW) will rise to £12.71 per hour from April 2026, a 4.1% increase from the current rate.

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for younger workers and apprentices will also see significant increases.

These changes were confirmed by the government following recommendations from the independent Low Pay Commission (LPC)

National Living Wage (ages 21 and over)
£12.71 4.1% (+50p)

18 to 20-year-olds
£10.85 8.5% (+85p)

16 to 17-year-olds
£8.00 6% (+45p)

Apprentice rate
£8.00 6% (+45p)

Eligibility: The National Living Wage applies to workers aged 21 and over. Younger workers and apprentices are eligible for the National Minimum Wage rates listed above.

For a full-time worker (over 21), the NLW increase translates to an annual pay rise of approximately £900.

The government has indicated a long-term plan to phase out the separate age bands for 18-20 year olds, moving towards a single adult rate for all.

https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates