NMW (Age 18-20) — 40 hours per week After Tax 2025-26
Age 18-20 NMW · £10.00/hr · Gross: £20,800/year
NMW (Age 18-20) — 40 hours per week — full tax breakdown 2025-26
| Item | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | £20,800 | £1,733 |
| Personal Allowance (tax-free) | £12,570 | £1,048 |
| Income Tax | −£1,646 | −£137 |
| National Insurance (8%) | −£658 | −£55 |
| Net take-home | £18,496 | £1,541 |
Minimum wage take-home pay — 40 hours a week
Working 40 hours per week at the Age 18-20 NMW of £10.00/hr, your weekly gross is £400 and your annual gross is £20,800 (based on 52 weeks). After Income Tax of £1,646 and National Insurance of £658, your take-home pay is £18,496/year, which is £1,541/month or £356/week net.
These figures use the standard tax code 1257L, no pension contributions, and no student loan deductions. Use the calculator above to adjust for your specific circumstances — including pension contributions that reduce your taxable income and National Insurance liability.
Personalised insights — 40 hrs/week at £10.00/hr
At £10.00/hr you currently earn £4,597/year less than the £12.21/hr National Living Wage rate paid to workers aged 21+ at the same 40 hours/week. That is £88 less per week and £383 less per month — a real step-up to expect when you turn 21 (18-20 band) or complete year 2 of your apprenticeship (apprentice band).
Your annual gross of £20,800 sits 30% above the commonly cited UK single-adult poverty benchmark of £16,000. You keep 89% of each pound earned after Income Tax and NI, and around £9 leaves your paycheck in combined tax/NI per working day (260-day year). Daily net reaching your bank account: roughly £71.
Scaling up to a full-time 37.5-hour week at the same £10.00/hr would give an annual gross of £19,500 and a take-home of £17,560/year (£1,463/month). On your current 40 hours, saving 10% of your take-home (£154/month) into an ISA would take about 130 months to reach the £20,000 annual allowance.
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
How much do I take home on minimum wage working 40 hours a week?
Working 40 hours/week at £10.00/hr (NMW (Age 18-20) — 40 hours per week), your annual gross is £20,800. After Income Tax (£1,646) and National Insurance (£658), you take home £18,496/year — £1,541/month or £356/week.
Do I pay Income Tax on minimum wage at 40 hours a week?
Yes. At 40 hours/week, your annual gross is £20,800, above the £12,570 Personal Allowance. Income Tax of £1,646/year is deducted at 20% on earnings above £12,570.
How much do I earn per week working 40 hours at the minimum wage?
Working 40 hours/week at £10.00/hr gives a weekly gross of £400 and an annual gross of £20,800 (52 weeks). Your weekly take-home after tax is approximately £356.
What is the NMW / NLW rate for Age 18-20 NMW in 2025-26?
Workers aged 18 to 20 are entitled to the National Minimum Wage of £10.00/hr from April 2025. The higher National Living Wage (£12.21/hr) applies from age 21.
How much tax do I actually pay on minimum wage working 40 hours a week?
The effective tax rate (Income Tax + NI as % of gross) on £20,800 annual gross is 11.08%. Income Tax is £1,646 and National Insurance is £658. Total deductions: £2,304/year.
What is the difference between the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage for this age group?
Workers aged 18-20 are entitled to the NMW of £10.00/hr — lower than the National Living Wage (£12.21/hr) that applies from age 21. At 40 hours/week, the age 18-20 rate gives a gross of £20,800/year (£400/week). When you turn 21, your employer must automatically move you to £12.21/hr or face HMRC enforcement action.
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