Updated October 2026
April 2026 apprentice rates

Apprentice Wage Calculator UK 2026

Find your minimum apprentice wage, check if you are being paid correctly, and see your weekly and annual earnings at a glance.

Quick answer: The 2026 apprentice minimum wage is £8.00/hour — for all first-year apprentices and for any apprentice under 19. Year 2+ apprentices aged 21+ earn at least £12.71/hr.

What is the UK Apprentice Minimum Wage for 2026/27?

The UK Apprentice Minimum Wage for 2026/27 is £8.00 per hour (effective 1 April 2026). This statutory rate applies to all apprentices in their first year of training (regardless of age), and to any apprentice aged under 19 in any year. Apprentices aged 19+ in Year 2+ move to their standard statutory age-band rate: £10.85/hr (aged 19–20) or £12.71/hr (aged 21+).

You are in Year 1. The statutory apprentice rate applies: £8.00/hour.

Your Legal Minimum Hourly Rate

£8.00/hr

Weekly Gross

£300.00

Monthly Gross

£1,300

Annual Gross

£15,600

Est. Net Take-Home

£1,235/mo

Key Apprentice Minimum Wage Rules (2026/27):

  • Under 19: You receive £8.00/hr minimum in all apprenticeship years.
  • Aged 19+ in Year 1: You receive £8.00/hr minimum during your first 12 months.
  • Aged 19+ in Year 2+: Your employer must legally increase your pay to the standard minimum wage for your age (£10.85/hr if 19–20, or £12.71/hr if 21+).
  • Training Time Pay: You must be paid your normal rate for all classroom and study hours (minimum 20% off-the-job training).

Apprentice Minimum Wage Rates 2026

Scenario Condition Min Rate
Year 1 (any age) All first-year apprentices £8.00/hr
Year 2+ aged under 19 Still on apprentice rate £8.00/hr
Year 2+ aged 19–20 Age-band rate applies £10.85/hr
Year 2+ aged 21+ National Living Wage applies £12.71/hr

Rates effective 1 April 2026, set by the Government following Low Pay Commission recommendations.

What Changes After Year One?

The most important date in any apprenticeship is the anniversary of your start date. Once you have completed your first year and you are aged 19 or over, the apprentice rate no longer applies — you move on to the standard National Minimum Wage for your age band.

  • → Under 19: Your rate stays at £8.00/hr regardless of year — until you turn 19.
  • → Aged 19–20, year 2+: Rate rises to £10.85/hr (the 18–20 National Minimum Wage band).
  • → Aged 21+, year 2+: Rate rises to £12.71/hr — the full National Living Wage.

This switch is automatic. Your employer is legally required to increase your pay at this point without you having to ask. If your anniversary has passed and your pay has not increased, that is a minimum wage violation you can report to HMRC.

Apprentice Pay vs Full Minimum Wage — When Do You Switch?

Age and year both determine your rate. Use this simple decision path to find your entitlement:

Step 1 — Are you in year 1?

Yes → £8.00/hr applies at any age.   No → go to step 2.

Step 2 — Are you under 19?

Yes → still £8.00/hr.   No → go to step 3.

Step 3 — Are you aged 19–20?

Yes → £10.85/hr.   If 21 or over → £12.71/hr.

A common misconception is that finishing year one means you jump straight to the £12.71 Living Wage. It does not — age still determines which band you move into.

How Apprentice Wages Are Calculated

Your minimum wage entitlement covers every hour you are required to work or attend training — not just hours spent at your employer's workplace.

Training and college hours

All time spent at college or attending off-the-job training must be paid at your minimum rate. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood rules — many apprentices are told college days are unpaid. They are not: HMRC confirms that training time counts as working time.

Holiday pay

Apprentices have the same statutory holiday entitlement as other workers: 5.6 weeks (28 days for a five-day week) of paid holiday per year. If your hours vary week to week, holiday pay must be based on your average earnings over the previous 52 working weeks.

Breaks and travel time

Rest breaks during the working day do not count as working time and do not need to be paid. However, travel between two work sites for the same employer does count. Ordinary commuting from home to work does not count.

Calculating weekly and annual pay

Multiply your hourly rate by contracted weekly hours to get your gross weekly figure, then by 52 for annual gross. To see your take-home after income tax and National Insurance, use the Minimum Wage Take-Home Calculator.

Apprentice Wage History 2015–2026

The apprentice rate has more than doubled since 2015, rising faster in percentage terms than the adult rate in recent years.

April Apprentice Rate Change
2015 £2.80/hr —
2016 £3.30/hr +£0.50
2017 £3.50/hr +£0.20
2018 £3.70/hr +£0.20
2019 £3.90/hr +£0.20
2020 £4.15/hr +£0.25
2021 £4.30/hr +£0.15
2022 £4.81/hr +£0.51
2023 £5.28/hr +£0.47
2024 £6.40/hr +£1.12
2025 £7.55/hr +£1.15
2026 ★ £8.00/hr +£0.45

For the complete history of all NMW age band rates from 1999, see the UK Minimum Wage History page.

Frequently Asked Questions

£8.00 per hour from April 2026. This rate applies to all apprentices in their first year, and to apprentices of any age under 19.
From the second year of their apprenticeship, if they are aged 19 or over, they are entitled to the National Minimum Wage for their age band — £12.71/hr if they are 21 or over, or £10.85/hr if they are 19–20.
The apprentice minimum wage for 2026 is £8.00 per hour, effective from 1 April 2026. This applies to all first-year apprentices regardless of age, and to any apprentice under 19 in any year of their programme. It is up from £7.55/hr in April 2025.
Enter your age, your year of apprenticeship, and your actual hourly pay above. The calculator compares your pay against the legal minimum for your situation. If your pay falls below the minimum, the calculator shows the shortfall and you can report it to HMRC using the Fair Work Agency report form.
No. £8.00/hr is the legal minimum from April 2026. Paying below this is a minimum wage violation. You can check your entitlement using this apprentice wage calculator and report underpayment to HMRC.
Yes. Apprentices have the same holiday entitlement as other workers — a minimum of 5.6 weeks (28 days) per year for full-time apprentices. Holiday pay must be based on average earnings over the previous 52 working weeks if hours vary.
Yes. You must be paid at least the apprentice minimum wage for all time spent training, studying at college and working — not just the hours you spend at your employer's workplace. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood rules and HMRC is clear on it.
Yes. The National Minimum Wage is a legal floor, not a cap. Many employers pay above the minimum rate. Your apprenticeship agreement may specify a higher rate. Always check your contract.

About this guide

This calculator is maintained by UKMinimumWage.co.uk using published GOV.UK rates for 2026/27. Last updated October 2026. This site is not HMRC-endorsed.