The National Minumum Wage
The National Minimum Wage Rate is a legal average hourly earnings amount, below which no worker must fall. It is variable depending on your age, and applies to people over the age of 16 – for every job type and sector.
Understanding your minimum wage rights
The National Minimum Wage Rate is reviewed every year.
Rates from April 2018 are:
- £7.83 per hour for someone aged 25 and over
- £7.38 per hour for someone aged 21 and over (but under 25)
- £5.90 per hour development rate for workers aged 18 to 20 years inclusive.
- £4.20 per hour for 16 and 17 year olds (above compulsory school leaving age)
- An employed apprentice who is under 19 or in the first year of their apprenticeship is entitled to be paid a minimum wage of £3.70 per hour.
- An employed apprentice who is under 19 and who has completed the first year of their apprenticeship is entitled to be paid a minimum wage applicable to their age bracket.
To see rates for previous years, visit the gov.uk website.
If your employer provides your accommodation, this may also affect your wage. From April 2018 the offset rate for accommodation charges is £7 per day. If your employer charges more than this, the difference is taken off your pay.
To check your earnings, you can use a Minimum Wage calculator, and if you are concerned that you are, or have not, been receiving the right rate, get in touch with our Service Centre on 0800 389 6332 or servicecentre@community-tu.org.
