From 1 April 2026, the National Minimum Wage for 16 and 17 year olds is £8.00 an hour, up from £7.55. Here are all the current rates, who they apply to and what it means for teenagers doing their own jobs.
Last reviewed November 2026. Rates change every April.
UK minimum wage rates from April 2026
- 21 and over (National Living Wage): £12.71 an hour
- 18 to 20: £10.85 an hour
- 16 and 17: £8.00 an hour
- Apprentices under 19, or in the first year of their apprenticeship: £8.00 an hour
Source: GOV.UK, Minimum wage rates for 2026.
Who gets the 16 to 17 rate?
You are entitled to the minimum wage once you are over compulsory school age, which in England means after the last Friday in June of the school year in which you turn 16. So a 16 year old still in Year 11 in May is not yet covered, but the same person working in July is. The rate applies to workers and employees in almost every kind of job, part-time or full-time.
Do under-16s get the minimum wage?
No. Children below school leaving age are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage, so their pay is whatever they agree with the person hiring them. That does not mean any rate is fair, and a good local employer will pay a sensible amount for the work.
Does the minimum wage apply to odd jobs?
The minimum wage applies to people who work for an employer. If you run your own small jobs, such as washing cars or walking dogs for neighbours, you are working for yourself and you set your own prices. Even so, at 16 and 17 it makes sense to use £8.00 an hour as a floor, since that is what an employer would have to pay you.
Fair pay for younger teens
For 13 to 15 year olds doing local jobs, pricing by the job works better than an hourly rate. The 2026 teen price guide gives starting prices for the most common jobs, from car washing to tech help.
Other rights at 16 and 17
- Usually no more than 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week
- 12 hours' rest between working days and 2 days off a week
- A 30-minute break if you work more than 4.5 hours
- Paid holiday if you are an employee
- A payslip showing what you earned and any deductions
Tax and National Insurance
You can earn £12,570 a year before income tax, and National Insurance starts once you are 16 and earn above the weekly threshold. Most part-time teenage workers pay neither. Read do teenagers pay tax?
Earn more with your own jobs
Many 16 and 17 year olds combine a part-time job with their own local work, which often pays more per hour. 16 and 17 year olds can sign up to KidsHustle on their own and apply for paid jobs posted by ID-verified adults nearby. Download KidsHustle, or read jobs for 16 year olds.