Question 1

Does minimum wage apply to part-time workers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The National Minimum Wage applies to every worker regardless of whether they work part-time, full-time, or on a zero-hours contract. Your employer must pay at least the NMW rate for every hour you work.

Question 2

How is part-time minimum wage calculated?

Accepted Answer

Simply multiply your NMW hourly rate by the number of hours you work per week to get your gross weekly pay. The rate for 2026/27 is £12.71/hr for workers aged 21+, £10.85/hr for 18–20, and £8.00/hr for under-18s and first-year apprentices.

Question 3

Do I get holiday pay as a part-time minimum wage worker?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday per year, pro-rated for part-time hours. For irregular hours workers, holiday pay is calculated at 12.07% of pay earned in the relevant pay period.

Question 4

Will I pay tax working part-time at minimum wage?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your annual earnings. If you earn less than £12,570/year (the 2026/27 personal allowance), you pay no income tax or NI. Many part-time minimum wage workers fall below this threshold.

Hours/Week	Weekly Gross	Annual Gross	Net Monthly	Net Annual
8 hrs	£101.68	£5,287	£441	£5,287
12 hrs	£152.52	£7,931	£661	£7,931
16 hrs	£203.36	£10,575	£881	£10,575
20 hrs	£254.20	£13,218	£1,064	£12,771
25 hrs	£317.75	£16,523	£1,265	£15,183
30 hrs	£381.30	£19,828	£1,498	£17,973
37.5 hrs	£476.63	£24,784	£1,797	£21,561
40 hrs	£508.40	£26,437	£1,880	£22,555

Part-Time Minimum Wage Calculator 2026/27

Part-Time NMW Earnings — 21+ Rate (£12.71/hr)