What Is Minimum Wage for an 18 Year Old in 2026/27? Take-Home Pay Explained

What Is Minimum Wage for an 18 Year Old in 2026/27?

If you are 18 years old and working in the UK, the minimum wage you are entitled to depends on your age. From April 2026, the National Minimum Wage for workers aged 18 to 20 is £10.85 per hour. This rate applies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is important to distinguish this from the National Living Wage, which is £12.71 per hour but only applies to those aged 21 and over.

Gross Salary at £10.85 Per Hour

Your gross annual salary depends on how many hours you work each week. For a typical full-time week of 40 hours, your gross pay would be:

• Weekly: £10.85 × 40 = £434.00
• Annual: £434.00 × 52 weeks = £22,568

If you work 37.5 hours per week (common in many office and retail roles), your gross annual salary is £21,158. Many 18 year olds work part-time while studying, so a 20-hour week gives a gross annual income of £11,284, and a 16-hour week gives £9,027.

Take-Home Pay After Tax and National Insurance

Your take-home (net) pay is what you actually receive after deductions. For the 2026/27 tax year, the key deductions are:

• Income Tax: You pay 20% on earnings above the Personal Allowance of £12,570.
• National Insurance: You pay 8% on earnings above the primary threshold (also £12,570 for employees in 2026/27).

Using the standard tax code 1257L and assuming no pension or student loan, here are estimated monthly take-home figures for common working hours at £10.85 per hour:

Hours/week	Gross annual	Tax + NI	Net annual	Net monthly
16 hrs	£9,027	£0	£9,027	£752
20 hrs	£11,284	£0	£11,284	£940
25 hrs	£14,105	£430	£13,675	£1,140
30 hrs	£16,926	£1,220	£15,706	£1,309
35 hrs	£19,747	£2,010	£17,737	£1,478
37.5 hrs	£21,158	£2,405	£18,753	£1,563
40 hrs	£22,568	£2,800	£19,769	£1,647

As the table shows, if you work 20 hours or fewer per week, your earnings stay below the Personal Allowance, so you pay no Income Tax and no National Insurance. Your take-home pay equals your gross pay.

Factors That Change Your Take-Home Pay

The figures above are estimates for a single person with no pension contributions and no student loan. Your actual take-home pay may differ if:

• You contribute to a workplace pension: Automatic enrolment means you may pay at least 5% of your qualifying earnings into a pension, reducing your net pay.
• You have a student loan: If you have a Plan 2 or Plan 5 student loan, you repay 9% of earnings above the threshold (£2,274 per month for Plan 2 in 2026/27).
• You live in Scotland: Scottish Income Tax rates and bands are different. For 2026/27, the starter rate is 19%, basic rate 20%, intermediate rate 21%, and higher rates apply above certain thresholds. This can increase your tax bill compared to the rest of the UK.
• Your tax code is different: If you have untaxed income or benefits, your tax code may be adjusted, affecting your take-home pay.

How the Minimum Wage Compares to Other Rates

For context, the National Living Wage for those aged 21 and over is £12.71 per hour. A 21-year-old working 37.5 hours per week would earn a gross annual salary of £24,785 and take home about £1,780 per month. The 18-20 rate is deliberately lower, but the government has stated its aim to reduce the gap over time.

For workers under 18, the minimum wage is £8.00 per hour, and the same rate applies to apprentices.

Using a Take-Home Calculator

To get a personalised estimate of your net pay, you can use our take-home calculator which allows you to input your exact hours, pension contributions, student loan plan, and tax code. For more detailed analysis of UK salary bands, see our salary articles.

Summary

To answer the question what is minimum wage for an 18 year old: from April 2026, it is £10.85 per hour. Your gross annual salary depends on your hours, and your take-home pay depends on tax thresholds, NI, and any other deductions. At 40 hours per week, you can expect around £1,647 per month after tax and NI. Always check your payslip and consult official guidance from GOV.UK for the most accurate information.