National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage: Rates over the years
The government have now aligned the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) uprating cycles so that both are reviewed and uprating applied on 1 April each year from 2017. Previously the NLW rate was changed in April and the NMW rate (and accommodation rate) was changed in October.
National Minimum Wage
NB - the rates are dependent upon age, with a special rate for apprentices.
The current rates from April 2025 are:
- 16-17 year olds - £7.55 an hour
- 18-20 year olds - £10.00 an hour
- Apprentice rate (for ages 16,17 or aged 18 and 19 and over but only in the first 12 months of their apprenticeship) - £7.55an hour.
- The accommodation offset - £10.66 (£74.62 per week)
National Living Wage
The rate from 1 April 2025 for those Aged 21 and over is £12.21 an hour.***
For the rates of earlier years go to the GOV.UK website.
Last reviewed/updated 3 July 2024