UK National Minimum and Living Wage rates (2024)

FAQs

What is the UK minimum wage and National Living Wage? ›

The “national living wage” (NLW) is increasing from Monday from £10.42 to £11.44 an hour, and is being expanded to cover younger workers with a cut in the age threshold from 23 to 21. The increase is worth £1,800 a year for a full-time adult worker.

It's against the law for an employer to pay less than the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage. They also must keep accurate pay records and make them available when requested. If an employer has not been paying the correct minimum wage, they should resolve the problem as soon as possible.

The Low Pay Commission estimates that there were around 1.6 million workers paid at or below the minimum wage in April 2023, around 5% of all UK workers.

A living wage is the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet his or her basic needs, while federal and state minimum wages are the minimum rates that all covered employers must pay all workers.

Is minimum wage a liveable salary? It can be, depending on where you live, your expenses, and how much of a minimum wage you're earning. Many states, cities, and even companies offer a higher minimum wage than the federal wage of $7.25, making it easier for people to survive.

In 2023, we have calculated that a single person needs to earn £29,500 to have an acceptable standard of living, up from £25,000 in 2022. A couple with two children need to earn £50,000, compared to £44,500 in 2022.

The latest government data (published June 2024) reveals that the mean average UK weekly wage (including bonuses) across all industry sectors (in England and Wales) is £687 gross (that's the equivalent to an annual pre-tax salary of £35,724.

The National Minimum Wage is the UK's pay floor - designed to protect as many low-paid workers as possible without hurting jobs or the economy. It is set annually on the basis of recommendations from the Low Pay Commission: an independent body of employers, unions and experts.

What is the minimum age to work in the UK? ›

Young people can start full-time employment as soon as they leave school, which is on the last Friday in June of the year that they turn 16 years old. Please note that there is now a requirement for young people to continue to participate in education and training up until the age of 18.

The minimum wage has risen this April in a boost for millions of UK workers, but charities have warned that it “falls short” of the cost of living. Known as the national living wage, payments have risen from £10.42 to £11.44 an hour.

UK salaries are low across all demographics for a few key reasons. The UK has more protections for employees than in the US, and this is paid for in the form of better social welfare. As a result, employers can offer lower wages as they can be confident their workers will be able to afford the cost of living.

The voluntarily paid living wage in the United Kingdom for 2023/24 is twelve British pounds per hour, with this rising to 13.15 pounds per hour for workers in London.

The latest government data (published June 2024) reveals that the mean average UK weekly wage (including bonuses) across all industry sectors (in England and Wales) is £687 gross (that's the equivalent to an annual pre-tax salary of £35,724.

As of 2022, here are the National Minimum Wage rates for different age groups: for those aged 23 or over, the minimum wage is an hourly rate of £9.50. for those aged between 21 and 22, the minimum wage is an hourly rate of £9.18. for those aged between 18 and 20, the minimum wage is an hourly rate of £6.83.

Having accepted the Low Pay Commission's recommendations in full, on 1 April 2024 the National Living Wage will increase by 9.8 per cent to £11.44 an hour, and apply to workers aged 21 and over.