Wed, 15 Oct 2025

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 What are the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage and how much are they worth?

Three and a half million low-paid workers across the UK benefit from minimum wage rates.

* On April 1, wages rose for: + 3.5 million low-paid workers on National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage + Almost half a million people on the Real Living Wage (paid voluntarily by some UK firms)
* New rates took effect: + National Living Wage: £12.21 an hour (up from £11.44, 6.7% increase) + National Minimum Wage for 18-20-year-olds: £10 an hour (up from £8.60, 16.3% increase) + National Minimum Wage for 16-17-year-olds: £7.55 an hour (up from £6.40, 18% increase)
* Apprentices' pay rates vary depending on age and apprenticeship stage
* Some workers don't qualify for either the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage, including self-employed, company directors, volunteers, and prisoners
* Employers who don't pay the correct wages can be fined by HMRC, with over 200 firms fined nearly £7m in June 2023
* The Real Living Wage has also increased: + London rate: £13.85 an hour (up from £13.15, 5.3% increase) + Rest of UK rate: £12.60 an hour (up from £12, 5% increase)
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