What Is Minimum Wage for an 18 Year Old? The 2026 Rates

If you are 18 years old and starting work in the UK, or you employ young workers, knowing the correct minimum wage is essential. From 1 April 2026, the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for 18‑20 year olds rises to £10.85 per hour. This is an increase of 85p (8.5%) from the previous rate of £10.00, reflecting the Government’s commitment to narrow the gap with the National Living Wage (which applies from age 21).

Who Gets the 18‑20 Rate?

The 18‑20 rate applies to all workers aged 18, 19, and 20, including those on zero‑hour contracts and casual work. However, there is an important exception: apprentices. If you are an apprentice aged 18 and either under 19 or in the first year of your apprenticeship, you are entitled to the apprentice rate of £8.00 per hour instead. Once you turn 19 and have completed the first year, you move onto the 18‑20 rate.

How Much Is That per Year?

To convert an hourly wage to an annual salary, the standard formula is:

Annual salary ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks

For an 18 year old working a typical full‑time week of 37.5 hours:

£10.85 × 37.5 × 52 = £21,157.50 gross per year

If you work 40 hours per week (common in some retail or hospitality roles), the annual figure would be:

£10.85 × 40 × 52 = £22,568 gross per year

Part‑time workers earn proportionally less. For example, 20 hours per week at £10.85 gives:

£10.85 × 20 × 52 = £11,284 gross per year

These are gross figures before income tax, National Insurance, and any pension contributions. The tax‑free Personal Allowance is £12,570, so many part‑time 18 year olds may pay little or no income tax.

How Does This Compare to Other Age Groups?

The UK minimum wage is age‑banded. Here are the rates from April 2026:

• 21 and over (National Living Wage): £12.71 per hour
• 18‑20 year olds: £10.85 per hour
• Under 18: £8.00 per hour
• Apprentice rate: £8.00 per hour

The 18‑20 rate is now 85% of the National Living Wage, up from 82% the previous year. The Low Pay Commission aims to eventually eliminate the age gap, but for now the rate for 18 year olds remains lower than for those aged 21+.

Part‑Time Work and Hourly Assumptions

Many 18 year olds work part‑time while studying or training. The minimum wage applies to every hour worked, regardless of contract type. When converting to an annual figure, always use your actual contracted hours. If your hours vary, use an average over a few weeks. Remember that the formula assumes 52 weeks of work; if you take unpaid leave or work fewer weeks, your actual annual earnings will be lower.

Our Hourly to Salary tool can help you quickly convert any hourly rate to annual, monthly, and weekly figures using your own hours assumption.

What About Overtime and London Weighting?

The minimum wage is the legal floor; many employers pay above it. Overtime pay is not legally required to be higher than the minimum wage, but some contracts offer time‑and‑a‑half. London weighting is an additional allowance paid by some employers in London to help with higher living costs. It is not part of the statutory minimum wage, so an 18 year old in London is still entitled to at least £10.85 per hour, but may receive more.

Real‑World Context: How Does £10.85 Stack Up?

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS ASHE), the median gross annual pay for full‑time employees in the UK is around £39,039 (about £20.02 per hour at 37.5 hours). The minimum wage for an 18 year old is therefore roughly half the median hourly rate. This reflects that younger workers are often in entry‑level roles with less experience.

For more detailed salary comparisons across industries and regions, see our salary data pages.

Take‑Home Pay Considerations

Your actual take‑home pay depends on tax and National Insurance. For the 2026/27 tax year:

• Income Tax: You pay 20% on earnings above £12,570.
• National Insurance: You pay 8% on earnings above the primary threshold (around £12,570 for most employees).

A full‑time 18 year old earning £21,157.50 would pay roughly:

• Income Tax: (£21,157.50 – £12,570) × 20% = £1,717.50
• National Insurance: (£21,157.50 – £12,570) × 8% = £687.00
• Net take‑home: about £18,753 per year, or £1,562 per month.

If you receive Universal Credit, the interaction with earnings can increase your net income further, as the Government has increased the standard allowance by 6.2% for 2026/27.

Staying Informed

Minimum wage rates change every April. Always check the latest on GOV.UK. For more articles on salary conversion and UK pay benchmarks, visit our salary articles section.

Summary

To answer the question “what is minimum wage for an 18 year old?”: from April 2026 it is £10.85 per hour. This translates to roughly £21,158 a year for a 37.5‑hour week. Part‑time workers earn proportionally less. Apprentices under 19 or in their first year receive £8.00 per hour. Always use the official GOV.UK rates and check your employment contract for any additional allowances.