20 hrs/week
Under 18 minimum wage 20 hours
€198.20/wk
€10,306.40/year gross
Effective 1 January 2026 · Updated 2026-08-24€9.91/hour
Under 18 2026
Employees under 18. Statutory Ireland rate with pay examples, Adult NMW context, and official WRC / gov.ie sources — for HR, payroll, and workers.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
€9.91Statutory rate
€20,612.80FT annual gross
-€4.24vs adult NMW
€9.45Prior (1 January 2025)
Pay at 20, 30 & 40 hours/week
Gross at €9.91/hour before tax, USC, and PRSI. Use the hourly salary calculator and Ireland tax calculator for take-home estimates.
30 hrs/week
Under 18 minimum wage 30 hours
€297.30/wk
€15,459.60/year gross
40 hrs/week
Under 18 minimum wage 40 hours
€396.40/wk
€20,612.80/year gross
Annual calculation
€9.91 × 40 hrs × 52 wks = €20,612.80 gross/year
Actual take-home depends on tax credits, USC, and PRSI. Model net pay with the Ireland tax calculator.
Previous rates
€9.45/hr1 January 2025 – 1 January 2026
Notes
Under-18 rate is set at 70% of the adult National Minimum Wage.
Adult National Minimum Wage context
The adult National Minimum Wage for employees aged 20 and over is €14.15/hour. This band is €4.24/hour below that floor.
Compare Under 18 minimum wage
See who has the higher floor — and why — versus other age bands.
Frequently asked questions
The statutory rate for employees under 18 is €9.91 per hour in 2026, effective 1 January 2026. Full-time (40 hrs/week, 52 weeks) equals about €20,612.80/year before tax, USC, and PRSI.
The adult National Minimum Wage for employees aged 20 and over is €14.15/hour. Under 18 is €9.91/hour (70% of adult) — a gap of €4.24/hour.
At €9.91/hour working 40 hours per week for 52 weeks, gross pay is €20,612.80/year before income tax, USC, and PRSI. Actual take-home depends on tax credits and deductions.
The current rate of €9.91/hour took effect on 1 January 2026. Ireland’s National Minimum Wage usually updates on 1 January.
At €9.91/hour for 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year (2,080 hours), gross annual pay is €20,612.80 before income tax, USC, and PRSI.
Employees under 18. Under-18 rate is set at 70% of the adult National Minimum Wage.
At €9.91/hour: 20 hrs/week ≈ €198.20/week (€10,306.40/year); 30 hrs/week ≈ €297.30/week (€15,459.60/year); 40 hrs/week ≈ €396.40/week (€20,612.80/year). Gross before tax, USC, and PRSI.
Higher statutory bands raise gross pay. Net pay still depends on tax credits, USC, and PRSI. Model the same hours in our Ireland tax calculator.
The adult National Minimum Wage is €14.15/hour. Under 18 is €9.91/hour (70% of adult) — a gap of €4.24/hour.
Craft apprentices are generally excluded from the National Minimum Wage. Certain close relatives of sole-trader employers may also be excluded. Confirm on WRC / Citizens Information — we do not invent an apprentice wage band.
Related tools
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- Minimum Wage New Zealand — Adult, starting-out, and training NZD floors.
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- Minimum Wage Canada — Provincial and territorial CAD floors.
- US Minimum Wage by State — Sibling tracker for US federal and state floors.
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