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What is the national minimum wage for 18 Year Olds? (Updated for 2024)
You may have heard the term national minimum wage before, but what does it mean exactly? Well, it refers to the minimum hourly wage a worker should be paid. This amount depends on their age and whether or not they’re an apprentice.
What is the national minimum wage?
| Minimum apprentice wage | £6.40 | |
| National minimum wage (under 18) |
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| National minimum wage (18-20) | £8.60 | |
| National minimum wage (21 and over) | £11.44 |
Almost everyone is entitled to a minimum wage from the age of 16 but as you get older, the amount you're entitled to increases.
You may also have have heard of something called the "National Living Wage". This is higher than the national minimum wage and applies to workers over 21 years. However, some employers choose to become "Living Wage Employers" and pay all of their staff the Living Wage rate, regardless of their age.
Do all employers have to pay the minimum wage?
It doesn’t matter how small an employer is, they still have to pay everyone the correct amount depending on their age.
When you turn 18, you can look forward to a higher minimum wage than when you were 16 and 17. As of April 2024, the national minimum wage for 18 year olds, 19 year olds and 20 year olds in the UK is £8.60 per hour.
National minimum wage rates are usually adjusted every April, so you should keep an eye on how they change and make sure that your employer adjusts your salary accordingly. The Gov.uk website has a really handy minimum wage calculator you can use to check if you're being paid the correct minimum wage for your age.
The national minimum wage for apprentices
As an apprentice, you're also entitled to a minimum wage. The current minimum wage rate for an apprentice is £6.40 per hour. This rate applies to apprentices who are under 19 and those aged 19 or over who are in their first apprenticeship year. All other apprentices are entitled to the minimum wage for their age.
You can find out more in our article on the apprenticeship wage.
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