20 hrs/week
Apprentice
£160.00/wk · £8,320.00/yr
Under 18
£160.00/wk · £8,320.00/yr
All UK minimum wage comparisons
Tie at £8.00/hr · 2026
ApprenticevsUnder 18Minimum Wage 2026
Apprentice and Under 18 share the same statutory minimum wage of £8.00/hour in 2026. Eligibility still differs — compare who qualifies below and on each band page.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
£8.00Apprentice
£8.00Under 18
TieSame floor
—FT annual gap
Scoreboard — tie · 2026
Apprentice
£8.00/hr
£16,640.00/yr FT · effective 1 April 2026
Under 18
£8.00/hr
£16,640.00/yr FT · effective 1 April 2026
Why it's a tie
- Both bands share the same statutory minimum of £8.00/hr.
- Eligibility still differs — check who qualifies for each band on GOV.UK.
- Use hourly and UK tax tools for take-home differences.
Side-by-side metrics
| Metric | Apprentice | Under 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory minimum | £8.00/hr | £8.00/hr |
| FT annual gross (40×52) | £16,640.00 | £16,640.00 |
| National Living Wage band | No | No |
| Eligibility | Apprentices under 19, or aged 19+ in the first year of their apprenticeship | Workers under 18 who are above school leaving age |
Pay by hours/week
Gross pay at each band's statutory minimum (before tax and National Insurance).
| Hours | Apprentice / wk | Under 18 / wk | Apprentice / yr | Under 18 / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hrs | £160.00 | £160.00 | £8,320.00 | £8,320.00 |
| 30 hrs | £240.00 | £240.00 | £12,480.00 | £12,480.00 |
| 40 hrs | £320.00 | £320.00 | £16,640.00 | £16,640.00 |
30 hrs/week
Apprentice
£240.00/wk · £12,480.00/yr
Under 18
£240.00/wk · £12,480.00/yr
40 hrs/week
Apprentice
£320.00/wk · £16,640.00/yr
Under 18
£320.00/wk · £16,640.00/yr
Pros & caveats
Apprentice
Pros
- Same hourly floor as Under 18 (£8.00)
- Apprentices under 19, or aged 19+ in the first year of their apprenticeship
Cons / caveats
- Apprentices aged 19 or over who have completed the first year of their apprenticeship move to the minimum wage for th…
Under 18
Pros
- Same hourly floor as Apprentice (£8.00)
- Workers under 18 who are above school leaving age
Cons / caveats
- You must be at least school leaving age to get the National Minimum Wage. Compulsory school age rules differ slightly…
Planning guide
How to read the Apprentice vs Under 18 minimum wage comparison
Apprentice and Under 18 share the same statutory floor in 2026. Eligibility can still diverge.
Statutory floor
Apprentice £8.00/hr vs Under 18 £8.00/hr
FT annual gap
Same gross at 40 hrs/week on the statutory floor
UK-wide
Same NMW/NLW bands in England, Scotland, Wales & NI
NLW context
National Living Wage (21+) is £12.71/hr
Before you use this Apprentice vs Under 18 wage gap
Confirm eligibility
Age and apprenticeship status determine which statutory band applies.
UK-wide rates
Statutory floors do not differ by nation — England, Scotland, Wales, and NI share NMW/NLW.
Check effective dates
Rates are for 2026. NMW/NLW usually updates every 1 April.
Model take-home next
Convert hours with the hourly calculator, then compare UK tax take-home for net pay.
NLW vs Living Wage Foundation
The National Living Wage (£12.71/hour for ages 21+) is the statutory government floor. The Living Wage Foundation publishes voluntary higher rates that some employers choose to pay. This duel ranks statutory NMW/NLW bands only.
Overview
Apprentice and Under 18 share the same statutory minimum wage of £8.00/hour in 2026. Eligibility still differs — compare who qualifies below and on each band page.
FAQ
They tie at £8.00/hour in 2026.
Floors match, so FT gross at the statutory minimum is the same (£16,640/year at 40 hrs). Eligibility may still differ.
Apprentice: Apprentices under 19, or aged 19+ in the first year of their apprenticeship. Under 18: Workers under 18 who are above school leaving age.
Yes. Statutory National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates are the same in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Yes. Rates reflect our 2026 UK minimum wage tracker (last reviewed against GOV.UK NMW/NLW publications). Laws usually change on 1 April — verify before payroll changes.
Convert hours with our hourly salary calculator, then run the result through the UK tax calculator for income tax and National Insurance. Minimum wage figures here are gross floors, not net pay.
No. The National Living Wage is the statutory government floor for ages 21+. The Living Wage Foundation publishes voluntary higher rates. This comparison uses statutory bands only.
The ladder shows weekly and annual gross at common hour counts using each band's statutory rate. It helps translate the hourly gap into cash flow before tax — overtime and tips are not included.
Use related links below, the reverse matchup (Under 18 vs Apprentice), or the UK minimum wage compare hub picker for any two age bands.
Compare take-home too
Wage floors are only half the story. See take-home pay by UK nation and the UK tax calculator for income tax and National Insurance at the same salary.
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