How to use the Minimum Wage Calculator
- 1 Choose your age group, or apprentice if you are in the first year of an apprenticeship or under 19.
- 2 Enter the hours you work each week.
- 3 Optionally enter your hourly pay.
- 4 Read the minimum for each pay period and whether your pay meets it.
Worked example
A worker aged 25 on 37.5 hours a week. The National Living Wage is £12.71 an hour, so the legal minimum is £476.63 a week, about £2,065.38 a month and £24,784.50 a year. If the worker were paid £12.00 an hour, they would be underpaid by about £1,384 a year.
Features
April 2026 rates
£12.71 for 21 and over, £10.85 for 18 to 20, £8.00 for under 18s and apprentices.
Weekly, monthly and yearly
The minimum turned into the pay periods on your contract.
Pay check
Shows if your hourly pay is below the legal minimum and by how much a year.
When to use it
New jobs
Check an offer meets the legal minimum.
Birthday changes
See your new rate when you move into a higher age band.
Employers
Check every worker's pay after the April increase.
Part-time work
Work out the legal minimum for any number of hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is the National Living Wage in 2026?
£12.71 an hour from 1 April 2026 for workers aged 21 and over, up from £12.21.
What are the other rates?
£10.85 an hour for 18 to 20 year olds, and £8.00 for 16 and 17 year olds and apprentices.
Who gets the apprentice rate?
Apprentices under 19, and apprentices aged 19 or over in the first year of their apprenticeship. After that they get the rate for their age.
Can pay be averaged?
Yes. The minimum is checked over each pay reference period, usually a week or a month. Your total pay divided by hours worked must reach the minimum rate.
Do tips count toward minimum wage?
No. Tips, service charges and gratuities cannot be used to make up the minimum wage.
What can I do if I am underpaid?
Talk to your employer first, then contact Acas or complain to HMRC, which enforces minimum wage law and can order back pay and fines.
Is the Real Living Wage the same?
No. The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate set by the Living Wage Foundation. The legal minimum is the National Living Wage.
Does unpaid work time count?
Time spent on training, travelling between assignments and required tasks before or after a shift usually counts as working time. If it is unpaid, your average hourly pay can fall below the legal minimum.
Can uniform costs take me below the minimum?
Yes, if your employer makes you pay for a uniform or tools and that drops your pay below the minimum rate for the pay period. Employers must make sure deductions do not cause this.
Results are estimates based on the official rates linked above. Confirm important figures with the issuing authority or a qualified adviser before you act on them.
Reviewed by ToolsUnlocked Team · Last updated