The Government-set National Minimum Wage rates are typically updated every year on April 1
If you assumed that everyone is entitled to the National Minimum Wage, you’d be wrong. A small handful of career paths aren’t guaranteed this basic pay or the National Living Wage – and that even includes company directors.
While the National Living Wage offers a higher rate for people aged 21 and over, the National Minimum Wage sets the minimum legal hourly wage for workers. Yet, not every worker is entitled to these rates, with a staggering 15 job categories being exempt.
Among those who might forgo this fundamental wage are members of the armed forces and even fishermen. The Government also lists the following:
- Members of the armed forces
- Self-employed people running their own business
- Workers on a government employment programme, such as the Work Programme
- People living and working in a religious community
- Workers on government pre-apprenticeships schemes
- People on the following European Union (EU) programmes: Leonardo da Vinci, Erasmus+, Comenius
- People shadowing others at work
- People working on a Jobcentre Plus Work trial for up to 6 weeks
- People who are volunteers or voluntary workers
- Prisoners
- Workers younger than school leaving age (usually 16)
- Family members of the employer living in the employer’s home
- Higher and further education students on work experience or a work placement up to one year
- Company directors
- Share fishermen
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Meanwhile, employees are entitled to the correct minimum wage if they are:
- Casual labourers, for example someone hired for one day
- Agency workers
- Offshore workers
- Apprentices
- Trainees, workers on probation
- Agricultural workers
- Foreign workers
- Seafarers
- Workers and homeworkers paid by the number of items they make
- Part-time
- Disabled workers
- Non-family members living in the employer’s home who share in the work and leisure activities and are treated as one of the family, for example, au pairs
Apprentices are also entitled to an apprentice rate if they are under 19 or over 19 and in the first year of their apprenticeship. “Apprentices over 19 who have completed the first year of their apprenticeship are entitled to the correct minimum wage for their age,” the Government adds.
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What is the current National Minimum Wage?
The Government-set wage rates are updated every year on April 1.
As of April 1 2025, the rates are now:
- £12.21 (aged 21 and over)
- £10 (aged 18 to 20)
- £7.55 (aged under 18)
- £7.55 (apprentice rate)
Brits are encouraged to use the Government’s minimum wage calculator to check whether they are receiving the National Minimum Wage. Reach out to Acas if you’re not getting the National Minimum Wage and think you should be.
For more information, head to the Government’s website.