AWB - Agricultural rates of pay, orders and reports
Minimum rates of agricultural pay determined by the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland (AWB), and links to legislation (Orders) and AWB reports.
2025/2026 AWB rates
The Agricultural Wages Board minimum rates from the first pay
Reference period beginning on or after 1 April 2023:
| Rates of pay for 2023-24 | ||
| Grade | Definition | Rate per hour |
| 1 | Minimum rate - applicable for the first 40 weeks cumulative employment | Under 18 -£8.00 18-20 year olds £10.00 Over 21 £12.21 |
| 2 | Standard worker | £12.50 |
| 3 | Lead worker | £12.73 |
| 4 | Craft grade | £12.98 |
| 5 | Supervisory grade | £13.37 |
| 6 | Farm management grade | £13.90 |
(NB - These are the minimum hourly rates before tax and national insurance deductions)
If, at any time, the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or the National Living Wage (NLW) is higher than the hourly rates set out above, then the minimum rate shall be equal to the NMW or NLW. The NMW/NLW rates are available here:
When overtime is to be applied after 39 hours of work, it will be applied at a minimum of time and a half your normal hourly rate of pay.
The definitions for the grades and the qualifications required for each grade remain unchanged.
The accommodation offset has been increased to £54.71 per week.
2024/2025 AWB rates
The Agricultural Wages Board minimum rates from the first pay
Reference period beginning on or after 1 April 2024:
Rates of pay for 2024-25 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grade | Definition | Rate per hour |
| 1 | Minimum rate - applicable for the first 40 weeks cumulative employment | £7.99 |
| 2 | Standard worker | £8.62 |
| 3 | Lead worker | £10.77 |
| 4 | Craft grade | £11.58 |
| 5 | Supervisory grade | £12.18 |
| 6 | Farm management grade | £13.23 |
(NB - These are the minimum hourly rates before tax and national insurance deductions)
If, at any time, the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or the National Living Wage (NLW) is higher than the hourly rates set out above, then the minimum rate shall be equal to the NMW or NLW. The NMW/NLW rates are available here:
When overtime is to be applied after 39 hours of work, it will be applied at a minimum of time and a half your normal hourly rate of pay.
The definitions for the grades and the qualifications required for each grade remain unchanged.
The accommodation offset remains at £51.27 per week.