Apprentice Wage Calculator
Calculate weekly, monthly and annual apprentice wages using the latest UK National Minimum Wage rates for 2025/26. Includes employer NI and total employment cost.
Apprentice Details
Minimum school leaving age is 16
Max 48 hrs/week (Working Time Regulations)
Leave blank to use minimum wage rate
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Your Results
Applicable NMW Rate
Year 1 apprentice under 19 — apprentice rate applies.
Pay Breakdown
£7.55
Hourly rate
£283
Weekly pay
£1,227
Monthly pay
£14,723
Annual pay
Total Employment Cost
Figures are estimates based on April 2025 NMW rates. They do not include pension contributions (auto-enrolment may apply), apprenticeship levy, or other employment costs. Always check with an accountant or payroll specialist.
Key rules for apprentice pay (April 2025)
- The apprentice rate of £7.55/hr applies if the apprentice is in their first year OR is under 19, whichever is later.
- Once an apprentice completes year 1 AND turns 19, the standard NMW rate for their age bracket applies (£10.00 for 19–20, £12.21 for 21+).
- Employers are exempt from paying employer NI on apprentices under 25, up to the Upper Secondary Threshold (£50,270). This can save thousands per year.
- Holiday entitlement is 5.6 weeks per year (28 days for a 5-day week), which adds approximately 10.77% to the annual wage cost.
- The Apprenticeship Levy is paid by employers with a payroll above £3 million. Smaller employers pay 5% of apprenticeship training costs, with the government covering 95%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the apprentice minimum wage in the UK for 2025/26?⌄
From April 2025, the apprentice rate is £7.55 per hour. This rate applies to apprentices who are either in their first year of their apprenticeship, or who are under 19 years old.
Once an apprentice has completed their first year AND is aged 19 or over, they are entitled to the standard National Minimum Wage for their age group: £10.00/hr for ages 18–20, or £12.21/hr (the National Living Wage) for those aged 21 and over.
Do employers pay National Insurance for apprentices?⌄
Employers are exempt from paying employer National Insurance Contributions on wages paid to apprentices under the age of 25, up to the Upper Secondary Threshold of £50,270 per year.
This is a significant saving — at 13.8%, the NI saving on a full year of an apprentice earning the NLW at 37.5 hrs/week works out to around £2,700/year.
Once an apprentice turns 25, standard employer NI rates apply on earnings above the Secondary Threshold (£9,100/year).
How is holiday pay calculated for apprentices?⌄
Apprentices are entitled to the same statutory holiday as other workers: 5.6 weeks per year (28 days for a standard 5-day week, or 5.6 × contracted hours per week).
When calculating the total annual wage cost, holiday pay adds approximately 10.77% to the basic annual pay. This is because 5.6 weeks of holiday out of a total 52-week year means 5.6 ÷ (52 - 5.6) = 12.07%, but the commonly used uplift on gross pay is 5.6 ÷ 52 ≈ 10.77%.
Employers must pay at least the National Minimum Wage for all hours worked, including during training or college days within the apprenticeship.
What happens to the wage rate after year 1 of an apprenticeship?⌄
After the first year of an apprenticeship, the wage rate depends on the apprentice's age:
- Under 19: still entitled to the apprentice rate (£7.55/hr)
- Aged 19–20: must be paid at least £10.00/hr (NMW 18–20 rate)
- Aged 21+: must be paid at least £12.21/hr (National Living Wage)
Many employers choose to pay above the minimum, especially for apprentices progressing through their second or third year and developing valuable skills.
What is the Apprenticeship Levy and does it affect smaller tradesmen?⌄
The Apprenticeship Levy is a 0.5% charge on the annual payroll of employers with a total wage bill above £3 million. The vast majority of tradespeople and small trade businesses are not liable for the levy.
If you are a non-levy paying employer (payroll under £3m), the government funds 95% of apprenticeship training costs directly to the training provider. You pay just 5% — which for many trade apprenticeship standards works out to a few hundred pounds per year.
This makes apprentices an extremely cost-effective route to building a skilled workforce, particularly in the trades where there is a growing skills shortage.