Minimum Wage 2026 for a 17-Year-Old: Gross Pay, Deductions and Take-Home Pay

Minimum Wage 2026 for a 17-Year-Old: What You Need to Know

If you’re a 17-year-old starting work or looking for a job in 2026, it’s important to know your legal minimum pay and how much you’ll actually take home after deductions. The government sets a specific minimum wage 2026 17 year old rate, which is different from the rates for older workers. This article explains the gross hourly rate, typical deductions, and what your take-home pay could look like.

The 2026 Rate for Under-18s

From 1 April 2026, the National Minimum Wage for workers aged under 18 (but above compulsory school leaving age) is £8.00 per hour. This is confirmed by GOV.UK National Minimum Wage rates. The same rate applies to apprentices under 19 or in their first year. The rate increased by 6.0% from the previous year (up from £7.55). For comparison, the National Living Wage for those aged 21 and over rises to £12.71 per hour.

Gross Pay at £8.00 per Hour

Your gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions. How much you earn depends on your weekly hours. Many 17-year-olds work part-time alongside education, but some work full-time (35–40 hours per week). Here are examples:

• 15 hours/week: £120 per week, £6,240 per year
• 20 hours/week: £160 per week, £8,320 per year
• 30 hours/week: £240 per week, £12,480 per year
• 35 hours/week: £280 per week, £14,560 per year
• 40 hours/week: £320 per week, £16,640 per year

Common Deductions from Your Pay

Your take-home pay (net pay) is what you receive after deductions. The main ones are:

Income Tax

Everyone has a Personal Allowance of £12,570 per year (2026/27 tax year, GOV.UK rates and thresholds). You pay no tax on earnings up to that amount. On anything above, you pay 20% (basic rate). For a 17-year-old earning £14,560, the taxable amount is £1,990, so Income Tax would be about £398 per year (£33 per month). If you earn less than £12,570, you pay no Income Tax.

National Insurance (NI)

Employee NI is deducted once your weekly earnings exceed the primary threshold of £242 (2026/27). You pay 8% on earnings between £242 and £967 per week. For example, on £280 per week, NI is 8% of £38 = £3.04 per week (about £158 per year). If you earn below £242 per week, you pay no NI.

Pension Contributions

If you’re aged 22 or over and earn more than £10,000 per year, you are automatically enrolled into a workplace pension. However, 17-year-olds are not automatically enrolled because the age threshold is 22. You can choose to join voluntarily, but it’s not mandatory. If you do opt in, your contribution would typically be 5% of earnings above £6,240, with an employer contribution of 3%.

Student Loan Repayments

Most 17-year-olds do not have a student loan. If you do, repayments only start when your annual earnings exceed the threshold (e.g., £25,000 for Plan 5, £26,900 for Plan 1). Minimum wage earnings are well below these levels, so no deductions apply.

Example Take-Home Pay Calculation

Let’s take a 17-year-old working 35 hours per week at £8.00/hr, earning £14,560 per year. Assuming no pension and no student loan:

Deduction	Amount per year
Gross pay	£14,560
Income Tax (20% on £1,990)	-£398
National Insurance (8% on £1,976)	-£158
Net pay (take-home)	£14,004

That’s about £1,167 per month or £269 per week.

If you opt into a workplace pension with a 5% employee contribution, your take-home would be roughly £13,588 per year (£1,132 per month).

Scotland’s Different Income Tax Bands

If you live in Scotland, Income Tax rates are different. For 2026/27, the starter rate is 19% on earnings above £12,570 up to £16,956. For a 17-year-old earning £14,560, the tax would be 19% on £1,990 = £378, slightly less than the 20% rate in England. The Personal Allowance is the same. NI rules are the same across the UK.

What If You Work Part-Time?

Many 17-year-olds work fewer hours. If you work 15 hours per week (£6,240 per year), you’ll pay no Income Tax and no National Insurance (weekly earnings £120, below £242). Your take-home pay would be the full £6,240 per year (£520 per month).

Why Knowing Your Take-Home Pay Matters

Understanding the difference between gross and net pay helps you budget, know your rights, and check you’re being paid correctly. Use the take-home calculator to work out your own figures. For more on salary comparisons, see our salary articles.

Key Takeaways

• The minimum wage 2026 17 year old rate is £8.00 per hour from April 2026.
• You may pay Income Tax only if you earn over £12,570 per year.
• National Insurance starts when weekly earnings exceed £242.
• Pension auto-enrolment does not apply until age 22, but you can opt in.
• Take-home pay for a full-time 17-year-old on minimum wage is roughly £1,130–£1,170 per month.

Always check your payslip and refer to official guidance on GOV.UK for the latest rates.