Minimum Wage Checker
Enter your pay and your hours, choose your age group and see your hourly rate against the legal minimum.
Rates from 1 April 2026, checked against GOV.UK on 18 October 2026. This is a quick check and not legal advice.
Worked examples
A salary of £24,000 for 40 hours
Age 21 or over, £24,000 a year, 40 hours a week
£11.54 an hour, below the £12.71 minimum
The shortfall is £46.86 a week.
Meeting the rate
Age 21 or over, £12.71 an hour
Meets the minimum
The rate matches the National Living Wage exactly.
About Minimum Wage Checker
Most workers in the UK are entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage, and workers aged 21 and over to the higher National Living Wage. From 1 April 2026 the hourly rates are £12.71 for age 21 and over, £10.85 for ages 18 to 20 and £8.00 for under 18s and apprentices on the apprentice rate. Pay below the rate is unlawful.
Enter your pay before tax, say how often you get it, and give your weekly hours if your pay is not by the hour. The page works out your hourly rate and compares it with the rate for your age group. If you are below, it shows the shortfall for a week and for a year. This is a quick check, and the legal test counts some deductions, benefits and unpaid time in particular ways.
How to use Minimum Wage Checker
- Choose your age group, or apprentice.
- Enter your pay before tax and how often you receive it.
- If your pay is not by the hour, enter the hours you are contracted to work in a week.
- Compare your hourly rate with the minimum and note any shortfall.
Common uses
- Checking a salary offer against the legal minimum
- Finding out whether unpaid extra hours bring you below the minimum
- Checking pay for a young worker or apprentice
- Preparing to raise a pay concern with an employer
Frequently asked questions
What are the minimum wage rates from April 2026?
The National Living Wage for ages 21 and over is £12.71. The rate for ages 18 to 20 is £10.85, and for under 18s and apprentices on the apprentice rate it is £8.00.
Who gets the apprentice rate?
Apprentices aged under 19, or aged 19 and over in the first year of their apprenticeship. Apprentices aged 19 or over who have finished the first year get the rate for their age.
Does pay before tax matter?
Yes. The minimum wage is judged on pay before tax and National Insurance. Enter your gross pay.
Do all my hours count?
Hours you are required to be at work generally count. The exact rules depend on the type of work, such as salaried hours, time work or output work, and some deductions, such as for uniform, can lower the pay that counts.
What if I am below the minimum?
Talk to your employer first, then contact Acas for guidance or report it to HMRC. You can be owed back pay for earlier periods.