(updated October 2025)
The National Minimum Wage rates from 1st April 2025 are as follows :
- For workers aged 21 and over the national living wage rate will increase to £12.21 from 1st April 2025 (from £11.44).
- For workers aged 18 to 20 the rate increases to £10.00 per hour from 1st April 2025 (from £8.60).
- For workers aged 16 to 17 the rate increases to £7.55 from 1st April 2025 (from .6.40).
- The Apprentice rate increases to £7.55 from 1st April 2025 (from £6.40).
The ‘Real’ Living Wage (voluntary) rates for 2024-25 are £12.60, and £13.85 in London. The 2025/6 increase in the real Living Wage rates was announced on 22nd October 2025 and they rise to £13.45 an hour across the UK (85p or 6.7% increase), and £14.80 an hour in London (95p or 6.9% increase). Employers signed up to the Living Wage Foundation will need to implement these new rates by May 1st 2026.
Over 16,000 employers now pay the Real Living Wage. You can see more details here.
The real Living Wage rates are higher than the Statutory Minimum/National wage because they are independently-calculated based on what people need to get by. The Living Wage Foundation encourage employers that can afford to do so to ensure their employees earn a wage that meets the costs of living, not just the government minimum.
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