Minimum Wage Over 25: What You Need to Know in 2026

If you’re searching for the minimum wage over 25 in the UK, it’s important to know that the government’s National Living Wage (NLW) now applies to everyone aged 21 and over, not just those over 25. The age threshold was lowered in 2024. From April 2026, the NLW rate rises to £12.71 per hour, a 4.1% increase from the 2025 rate of £12.21. This means a full-time worker on a typical 37.5-hour week will earn around £24,785 per year before tax and National Insurance.

Current and Upcoming Rates

GOV.UK publishes the official National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates, which change every April. Here are the rates for April 2026 and the previous year:

Age group	April 2026 rate	April 2025 rate
21 and over (NLW)	£12.71	£12.21
18–20	£10.85	£10.00
Under 18	£8.00	£7.55
Apprentice	£8.00	£7.55

These rates are legally binding. Employers must pay at least the minimum wage for the employee’s age group. The accommodation offset (if the employer provides housing) also rises to £11.10 per day in 2026.

Converting Hourly Rates to Annual Salary

When comparing hourly jobs with salaried offers, you need a reliable conversion. The standard formula is:

Annual salary ≈ Hourly rate × contracted hours per week × 52 weeks

For a 37.5-hour week (common in many full-time roles):

• At £12.71/hr: £12.71 × 37.5 × 52 = £24,784.50
• At £12.21/hr (2025): £12.21 × 37.5 × 52 = £23,809.50

If you work 35 hours instead, the annual figure drops to about £23,132 at the 2026 rate. Always check your contract for your exact weekly hours.

How the Minimum Wage Compares to UK Median Earnings

The minimum wage over 25 (now 21+) is a legal floor, but most full-time employees earn more. According to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) for April 2025:

• Median full-time weekly earnings: £766.60
• Median full-time hourly earnings (excluding overtime): £19.67
• Median gross annual earnings (for those in the same job for at least a year): £39,039

These figures show that the NLW is well below the median. However, for low-paid sectors like caring, leisure, and retail, the NLW increase has been closely matched by wage growth. The ONS notes that all low-paid major occupations saw hourly pay increases at or above the NLW rise in 2025.

London Weighting and Overtime

Hourly-to-salary conversions assume a steady contracted week with no unpaid overtime, bonuses, tips, or salary sacrifice. In reality, many jobs include:

• London weighting: An additional allowance for working in London, often £3,000–£5,000 per year, which can push effective hourly rates higher.
• Overtime: Paid at a premium (e.g., time-and-a-half), which can boost annual earnings but is not guaranteed.
• Shift allowances: Extra pay for night, weekend, or bank holiday work.

If you’re comparing a salaried role with an hourly job, factor in these extras. The Hourly to Salary calculator on this site lets you adjust for different hours and weeks.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

Your take-home pay depends on tax and National Insurance deductions. For 2025/26, the Personal Allowance is £12,570 – you pay no income tax on earnings up to that amount. Above that, you pay 20% basic rate tax up to £50,270. National Insurance is also deducted. A full-time NLW worker earning £24,785 would pay roughly:

• Income tax: about £2,443 (20% of £12,215 above allowance)
• National Insurance: about £1,700 (depending on exact thresholds)
• Net take-home: around £20,642 per year or £397 per week

Use the salary articles on this site for more detailed breakdowns.

Why the Term “Minimum Wage Over 25” Still Exists

Many people still search for “minimum wage over 25” because the NLW originally applied only to those aged 25 and over when it launched in 2016. The government gradually lowered the age: to 23 in 2021, to 22 in 2023, and to 21 in 2024. So while the official term is now “National Living Wage (21+)”, the older phrase persists. If you are 21 or older, you are entitled to the NLW rate.

What the 2026 Increase Means for Workers

The government’s impact assessment states that the 4.1% rise is expected to keep the NLW ahead of inflation (as measured by CPIH) up to March 2027, providing a real-terms increase. For a single person working 35 hours per week on the NLW, weekly take-home pay will rise by about £11.90 (3.3%) after tax and benefits. However, the exact impact varies by household circumstances because of interactions with Universal Credit and other benefits.

Using the Hourly to Salary Calculator

If you’re job hunting and comparing offers, our Hourly to Salary tool can help. Enter your hourly rate and weekly hours to see the annual equivalent. You can also reverse the calculation to find the hourly rate from a salary. Remember that the figures are estimates – always check your contract for overtime, holiday pay, and any deductions.

Summary

The minimum wage over 25 in the UK is now the National Living Wage for ages 21+, set at £12.71 per hour from April 2026. This translates to roughly £24,785 per year for a 37.5-hour week. While this is a legal minimum, median UK earnings are much higher at £19.67 per hour. When converting hourly to salary, use the formula hourly × hours per week × 52, and consider London weighting, overtime, and tax. For more data on UK pay benchmarks, visit our salary data page.