National minimum wage to increase in April

The changes were revealed by the Treasury today (25 October) and are expected to be officially announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak during Wednesday's Budget on 27 October. See the table below for the new rates in full. 

To find out how much of your salary you'll take home after tax, see our Tax Rates 2021/22 guide and use our Income Tax Calculator. 

How minimum wage rates will rise from April 2022

Here's how national minimum wage rates will change from 1 April 2022: 

National 'living' wage is different to the 'real living wage'

Introduced in July 2015 by the then Chancellor George Osborne, the compulsory 'national living wage' is the lowest amount that can legally be paid to employees aged 23 or over. It is just another name for the national minimum wage. It is adjusted every April. The age at which workers become eligible for the national living wage was reduced in April this year, from 25 to 23, and is currently higher than the compulsory minimum wage, which is for those aged 22 and under.  

The national 'living' wage is different from the 'real living wage' though, which is the amount calculated by campaign group the Living Wage Foundation as the minimum pay workers and their families need to live. The 'real living wage' is currently £9.50/hr across the UK and £10.85/hr in London, for anyone aged over 18.

The Foundation is planning to release its real living wage for 2022 next month. It says there will be a "substantial gap" between its recommendations and next year's Government minimum wage.