The Government has announced National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates will increase from 1 April 2026.
Minimum wage rates are reviewed and updated annually on 1 April. This applies to all National Minimum Wage rates as well as the National Living Wage.
The National Living Wage, which applies to workers aged 21 and over, will increase by 4.1% to £12.71. The minimum wage for workers aged 18 to 20 will rise to £10.85, while the rate for those aged 16 to 17 will increase to £8.00.
This increase in the National Living Wage will deliver a real-terms pay rise for low-paid workers and supports the Government’s commitment to ensuring the rate remains at least two-thirds of median earnings. The uplift to the 18–20 year old rate also represents further progress towards alignment with the National Living Wage.
Minimum Wage | Increased Rates from April 2026
You can see the current minimum wage rates alongside the new rates effective from 1 April 2026 in the table below:
| Minimum wage rate | Current rate (2025-26) | New rate (from April 2026) | Increase |
| National Living Wage (21 years old and over) | £12.21 | £12.71 | 4.1% |
| National Minimum Wage (18-20 years old) | £10.00 | £10.85 | 8.5% |
| National Minimum Wage (16-17 years old) | £7.55 | £8.00 | 6% |
| National Minimum Wage (apprentice rate) | £7.55 | £8.00 | 6% |
| Accommodation offset (per day) | £10.66 | £11.10 | 4.1% |