Free · 2025/26 · From April 2025
Minimum Wage Calculator 2025/26
Check whether you’re being paid at least the National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage for your age, calculate annual and monthly earnings at minimum wage, and find out what to do if you suspect underpayment.
Minimum Wage Calculator
April 2025 Rates
Minimum for Your Age
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Your Hourly Rate
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Compliant?
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Earnings Estimate
National Minimum Wage rates from April 2025
| Age / Category | Rate from Apr 2025 | Rate 2024/25 | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 and over (NLW) | £12.21/hr | £11.44/hr | +6.7% |
| 18–20 | £10.00/hr | £8.60/hr | +16.3% |
| 16–17 | £7.55/hr | £6.40/hr | +18.0% |
| Apprentice (under 19, or year 1) | £7.55/hr | £6.40/hr | +18.0% |
The April 2025 increases are among the largest in NMW history, with the 18–20 rate rising over 16% as the government moves toward a single adult rate in coming years.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I’m being paid below minimum wage?
First, check your payslips carefully — deductions for uniform, tools, or accommodation can reduce effective hourly pay below the NMW illegally. Talk to your employer; underpayment is often an error. If they refuse to correct it, you can report them to HMRC’s Pay and Work Rights helpline (0300 123 1100) or submit a complaint online at gov.uk/report-employer-to-companies-house. HMRC investigates all complaints confidentially, and employers found to have underpaid face fines of 200% of underpaid wages plus public naming.
Does minimum wage apply to salaried workers?
Yes — the NMW/NLW applies to all workers regardless of whether they’re paid hourly or as a salary. To check compliance for a salaried worker, divide the annual salary by the total hours worked in the year. If that hourly rate falls below the applicable minimum, the employer must pay more. This can catch out salaried workers asked to work significant unpaid overtime.
Are tips counted towards minimum wage?
No — since October 2024, tips, gratuities and service charges can no longer be counted toward a worker’s NMW entitlement. Employers must pay the full NMW from their own funds, separate from any tips. Tips must be passed on to workers in full and employers must have a written tipping policy if they regularly receive tips.
