To qualify for National Minimum Wage, you must a least be school leaving age or be age 23 to qualify for National Living Wage.
Current rates
These rates are for the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage.
The rates change on 1 April every year.
| 23 and over | 21 to 22 | 18 to 20 | Under 18 | Apprentice | |
| April 2021 (current rate) | £8.91 | £8.36 | £6.56 | £4.62 | £4.30 |
| April 2022 | £9.50 | £9.18 | £6.83 | £4.81 | £4.81 |
Individuals not entitled to National Minimum/Living Wage include the following:
- Self-employed people running their own business
- Company directors
- People who are volunteers or voluntary workers
- Workers on a government employment programme, such as the work programme
- Members of the armed forces
- Workers younger than school leaving age (usually 16)
- Higher and further education students on work experience or a work placement up to one year
- People shadowing others at work
- Workers on government pre-apprenticeships schemes
