National Minimum Wage

The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage are the UK’s statutory hourly pay floors.

Key takeaways

• Two UK rates: The National Living Wage applies to workers aged 21 and over; lower age bands have separate National Minimum Wage rates.
• April 2026 rate: From 1 April 2026, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21+ is £12.71 an hour.
• Not the US federal rate: The UK scheme is age-banded and updated annually; the US federal minimum wage is a single flat rate ($7.25) unchanged since 2009.
• Employer obligation: UK employers must pay at least the applicable rate for every hour worked; underpayment triggers enforcement by HMRC.

Common questions

What is the National Minimum Wage?

The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage are the UK’s statutory hourly pay floors. From 1 April 2026 the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour.

How does the National Minimum Wage differ from the US federal minimum wage?

The UK uses age-banded rates updated each April. The US federal minimum wage is a single $7.25 rate unchanged since July 2009, though many US states set higher local floors. The two systems use different currencies, update cycles, and banding rules.