NMW (Apprentice) — 16 hours per week After Tax 2025-26
Apprentice NMW · £7.55/hr · Gross: £6,282/year
NMW (Apprentice) — 16 hours per week — full tax breakdown 2025-26
| Item | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | £6,282 | £524 |
| Personal Allowance (tax-free) | £12,570 | £1,048 |
| Income Tax | −£0 | −£0 |
| National Insurance (8%) | −£0 | −£0 |
| Net take-home | £6,282 | £524 |
No Income Tax payable. At 16 hours/week at £7.55/hr, your annual gross of £6,282 is below the £12,570 Personal Allowance. You pay no Income Tax. Your earnings are also below the NI Primary Threshold — no National Insurance is deducted.
Minimum wage take-home pay — 16 hours a week
Working 16 hours per week at the Apprentice NMW of £7.55/hr, your weekly gross is £121 and your annual gross is £6,282 (based on 52 weeks). After Income Tax of £0 and National Insurance of £0, your take-home pay is £6,282/year, which is £524/month or £121/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 — 16 hrs/week at £7.55/hr
At £7.55/hr you currently earn £3,877/year less than the £12.21/hr National Living Wage rate paid to workers aged 21+ at the same 16 hours/week. That is £75 less per week and £323 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 £6,282 sits 61% below the commonly cited UK single-adult poverty benchmark of £16,000. You keep 100% of each pound earned after Income Tax and NI, and around £0 leaves your paycheck in combined tax/NI per working day (260-day year). Daily net reaching your bank account: roughly £24.
Scaling up to a full-time 37.5-hour week at the same £7.55/hr would give an annual gross of £14,723 and a take-home of £14,120/year (£1,177/month). On your current 16 hours, saving 10% of your take-home (£52/month) into an ISA would take about 385 months to reach the £20,000 annual allowance.
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
How much do I take home on minimum wage working 16 hours a week?
Working 16 hours/week at £7.55/hr (NMW (Apprentice) — 16 hours per week), your annual gross is £6,282. After Income Tax (£0) and National Insurance (£0), you take home £6,282/year — £524/month or £121/week.
Do I pay Income Tax on minimum wage at 16 hours a week?
No. At 16 hours/week at the minimum wage, your annual gross is £6,282 — below the £12,570 Personal Allowance. You pay zero Income Tax. Your employer may still operate PAYE, but will return any over-deducted tax.
How much do I earn per week working 16 hours at the minimum wage?
Working 16 hours/week at £7.55/hr gives a weekly gross of £121 and an annual gross of £6,282 (52 weeks). Your weekly take-home after tax is approximately £121.
What is the NMW / NLW rate for Apprentice NMW in 2025-26?
Apprentices in their first year of apprenticeship, or aged under 19, are entitled to the apprentice rate of £7.55/hr from April 2025. Once an apprentice reaches year 2 and is 19 or over, the age-appropriate NMW rate applies.
How much tax do I actually pay on minimum wage working 16 hours a week?
The effective tax rate (Income Tax + NI as % of gross) on £6,282 annual gross is 0%. Income Tax is £0 and National Insurance is £0. Total deductions: £0/year.
What is the difference between the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage for this age group?
Apprentices in year one (or under 19 regardless of year) are entitled to the apprentice NMW rate of £7.55/hr — the same as workers aged 16-17. At 16 hours/week this gives a gross of £6,282/year (£121/week). Once aged 19+ AND in year two or beyond, the full age-appropriate NMW rate applies (£12.21/hr for those 21+).
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