• National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates 2018/2019 and Previous years
  • Who gets the minimum wage
  • Apprentices
  • Not entitled to the minimum wage
  • Work experience and internships
  • Voluntary work
The hourly rate for the minimum wage depends on your age and whether you’re an apprentice. You must be at least: School leaving age to get the National Minimum Wage Aged 25 to get the National Living Wage – the minimum wage will still apply for workers aged 24 and under Current rates These rates are for the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage. The rates change every April.
Year 25 and over 21 to 24 18 to 20 Under 18 Apprentice
April 2017 (current) £7.50 £7.05 £5.60 £4.05 £3.50
April 2018 £7.83 £7.38 £5.90 £4.20 £3.70
Rates before April 2016 The following rates were for the National Minimum Wage before the National Living Wage was introduced. The rates were usually updated every October.
Year 21 and over 18 to 20 Under 18 Apprentice
2015 £6.70 £5.30 £3.87 £3.30
2014 £6.50 £5.13 £3.79 £2.73
2013 £6.31 £5.03 £3.72 £2.68
2012 £6.19 £4.98 £3.68 £2.65
2011 £6.08 £4.98 £3.68 £2.60
2010 £5.93 £4.92 £3.64 £2.50
Rates before 2010 The age groups were different before 2010 and there were no National Minimum Wage rates for apprentices.
Year 22 and over 18 to 21 Under 18
2009 £5.80 £4.83 £3.57
2008 £5.73 £4.77 £3.53
2007 £5.52 £4.60 £3.40
2006 £5.35 £4.45 £3.30
2005 £5.05 £4.25 £3.00
Who gets the minimum wage Workers must be at least school leaving age (last Friday in June of the school year they turn 16) to get the National Minimum Wage. They must be 25 or over to get the National Living Wage. Contracts for payments below the minimum wage are not legally binding. The worker is still entitled to the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage. Workers are also entitled to the correct minimum wage if they’re:
  • part-time
  • casual labourers, for example someone hired for one day
  • agency workers
  • workers and home workers paid by the number of items they make
  • apprentices
  • trainees, workers on probation
  • disabled workers
  • agricultural workers
  • foreign workers
  • seafarers
  • offshore workers
Apprentices Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they’re either:
  • under 19
  • 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship
Apprentices over 19 who have completed the first year of their apprenticeship are entitled to the correct minimum wage for their age. Not entitled to the minimum wage The following types of workers aren’t entitled to the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage:
  • self-employed people running their own business
  • company directors
  • volunteers or voluntary workers
  • workers on a government employment programme, such as the Work Programme
  • members of the armed forces
  • family members of the employer living in the employer’s home
  • non-family members living in the employer’s home who share in the work and leisure activities, are treated as one of the family and aren’t charged for meals or accommodation, for example au pairs
  • workers younger than school leaving age (usually 16)
  • higher and further education students on a work placement up to 1 year
  • workers on government pre-apprenticeships schemes
  • people on the following European Union programmes: Leonardo da Vinci, Youth in Action, Erasmus, Comenius
  • people working on a Jobcentre Plus Work trial for 6 weeks
  • share fishermen
  • prisoners
  • people living and working in a religious community
Work experience and internships You won’t get the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage if you’re:
  • a student doing work experience as part of a higher or further education course
  • of compulsory school age
  • a volunteer or doing voluntary work
  • on a government or European programme
  • work shadowing
Voluntary work You’re classed as doing voluntary work if you can only get certain limited benefits (for example reasonable travel or lunch expenses) and you’re working for a:
  • charity
  • voluntary organisation or associated fund-raising body
  • statutory body

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