20 hrs/week
National Living Wage (21+)
£254.20/wk · £13,218.40/yr
18 to 20 year olds
£217.00/wk · £11,284.00/yr
All UK minimum wage comparisons
National Living Wage (21+) +£1.86/hr · 2026
National Living Wage (21+)vs18 to 20 year oldsMinimum Wage 2026
In 2026, National Living Wage (21+) wins on the statutory floor: £12.71/hour vs £10.85/hour for 18 to 20 year olds — a gap of £1.86/hour. At full-time (40 hrs/week), that is roughly £3,868.80 more gross income per year before tax and National Insurance. Rates are UK-wide; use our hourly and UK tax calculators for take-home.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
£12.71National Living Wage (21+)
£10.8518 to 20 year olds
£1.86Hourly gap
£3,868.80FT annual gap
National Living Wage (21+) has the higher statutory minimum wage
£12.71/hr vs £10.85/hr — a £1.86/hr gap (£3,868.80/yr FT gross).
National Living Wage (21+) wins · 2026
National Living Wage (21+)
Winner£12.71/hr
£26,436.80/yr FT · effective 1 April 2026
18 to 20 year olds
£10.85/hr
£22,568.00/yr FT · effective 1 April 2026
Gap: £1.86/hr · £3,868.80/yr FT (£322.40/mo)
Why National Living Wage (21+) wins
- National Living Wage (21+)'s rate is £1.86/hr higher (£12.71 vs £10.85).
- At 40 hours/week, that is about £3,868.80 more gross pay per year (£322.40/month).
- Eligibility: Workers aged 21 and over vs Workers aged 18, 19, or 20.
- Statutory NMW/NLW rates are UK-wide — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland share the same bands.
Side-by-side metrics
| Metric | National Living Wage (21+) | 18 to 20 year olds |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory minimum | £12.71/hr | £10.85/hr |
| FT annual gross (40×52) | £26,436.80 | £22,568.00 |
| National Living Wage band | Yes (21+) | No |
| Eligibility | Workers aged 21 and over | Workers aged 18, 19, or 20 |
Pay by hours/week
Gross pay at each band's statutory minimum (before tax and National Insurance).
| Hours | National Living Wage (21+) / wk | 18 to 20 year olds / wk | National Living Wage (21+) / yr | 18 to 20 year olds / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hrs | £254.20 | £217.00 | £13,218.40 | £11,284.00 |
| 30 hrs | £381.30 | £325.50 | £19,827.60 | £16,926.00 |
| 40 hrs | £508.40 | £434.00 | £26,436.80 | £22,568.00 |
30 hrs/week
National Living Wage (21+)
£381.30/wk · £19,827.60/yr
18 to 20 year olds
£325.50/wk · £16,926.00/yr
40 hrs/week
National Living Wage (21+)
£508.40/wk · £26,436.80/yr
18 to 20 year olds
£434.00/wk · £22,568.00/yr
Pros & caveats
National Living Wage (21+)
Pros
- Higher statutory floor (£12.71 vs £10.85)
- Highest statutory UK band (National Living Wage for ages 21+)
- Workers aged 21 and over
Cons / caveats
- The National Living Wage is the highest statutory band. It is set by government and is not the same as the voluntary …
18 to 20 year olds
Pros
- Workers aged 18, 19, or 20
Cons / caveats
- Lower floor than National Living Wage (21+) (£10.85 vs £12.71)
Planning guide
How to read the National Living Wage (21+) vs 18 to 20 year olds minimum wage comparison
National Living Wage (21+) has the higher statutory minimum in 2026. Check eligibility and take-home tools before deciding which band applies.
Statutory floor
National Living Wage (21+) £12.71/hr vs 18 to 20 year olds £10.85/hr
FT annual gap
£3,868.80/yr before tax
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 National Living Wage (21+) vs 18 to 20 year olds 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
In 2026, National Living Wage (21+) wins on the statutory floor: £12.71/hour vs £10.85/hour for 18 to 20 year olds — a gap of £1.86/hour. At full-time (40 hrs/week), that is roughly £3,868.80 more gross income per year before tax and National Insurance. Rates are UK-wide; use our hourly and UK tax calculators for take-home.
FAQ
National Living Wage (21+) is higher at £12.71/hour versus £10.85 for 18 to 20 year olds (£1.86/hr gap).
About £3,868.80 more gross per year at 40 hrs/week (£322.40/month), before tax and NI.
National Living Wage (21+): Workers aged 21 and over. 18 to 20 year olds: Workers aged 18, 19, or 20.
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 (18 to 20 year olds vs National Living Wage (21+)), 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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