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Work out if you are paid the National Minimum Wage

Almost all workers are entitled to be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. When calculating your National Minimum Wage pay you need to think about the type of work you do and any deductions from your pay, as well as your pay and hours worked.

Understand the basics

Find out about the basics of calculating the National Minimum Wage including what a pay reference period is, what pay counts as National Minimum Wage and how to treat 'benefits in kind'.

It is recommended that you read this article before trying to calculate your National Minimum Wage pay.

Calculating for time or salaried hours

If you are paid according to the number of hours you are at work, you are doing time work. If you are paid in equal weekly or monthly instalments for an agreed basic number of hours over a year you are a salaried worker.

The calculations to work out if you are being paid at least the National Minimum Wage for time or salaried hours is very similar. However, different things count as 'working hours' - so first you need to be clear about how long you have worked. For help calculating this, follow the link below.

If your employer provides accommodation

If your employer provides you with accommodation, thye can count some of its value towards National Minimum Wage pay. This is called the accommodation offset. For help understanding when the accommodation offset applies and for calculating your pay for National Minimum Wage purposes, follow the link below.

The National Minimum Wage: students working for and living in their university

Some students are employed by higher education institutions and get accommodation from them. They may however inadvertently have been underpaid the National Minimum Wage (NMW). For advice on how to check and where to get help follow the link below.

Calculations for output workers (piece workers)

If you are paid for the number of things you make or tasks you do then you are probably an output worker - also called a piece worker. Your employer can either pay you the National Minimum Wage or a fair piece rate for each item you produce or task you perform. For more information on calculating fair piece rates , follow the link below.

Calculations for unmeasured work

If you do not think you are doing time work, salaried hours work or output work then youa are probably doing unmeasured work. You are still entitled to the National Minimum Wage. For information on calculating if you are being paid at least the National Minimum Wage rate, follow the link below.