Apprentices are employees. They must be paid for their work and for the apprenticeship training the programme requires. The legal minimum depends on the apprentice's age and, for apprentices aged 19 or over, on whether they have completed the first year of the apprenticeship.
Current minimum rates
From 1 April 2026:
| Category | Minimum hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Apprentice rate | £8.00 |
| Aged under 18 | £8.00 |
| Aged 18 to 20 | £10.85 |
| Aged 21 and over | £12.71 |
The apprentice rate has its own eligibility rules, set out below. The other three rows are the ordinary National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates for those age bands.
Three worked examples
| Situation | Minimum hourly rate | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A 17-year-old apprentice | £8.00 | Under 19, so the apprentice rate applies |
| A 20-year-old in the first year | £8.00 | 19 or over but still in year one, so the apprentice rate applies |
| A 20-year-old after the first year | £10.85 | 19 or over and past year one, so the rate for their age applies |
An apprentice who is aged 19 or over and has completed the first year of the apprenticeship must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate for their age.
Are apprentice salaries usually exactly the minimum?
No. These are legal minimums, not typical salaries. Many apprenticeship vacancies advertise well above them, particularly at higher and degree level. The statutory figure is a legal floor, not a typical salary, so the salary to work from is the one on the vacancy itself.
Do apprentices get paid for training?
Yes. An apprentice must be paid for normal working hours, required apprenticeship training, and required English and maths study where it forms part of the apprenticeship.
Current GOV.UK guidance says an apprentice gets “time for training and study related to your role (at least 20% of your normal working hours)”. That training can happen at a college, with a training provider, at the employer's workplace, online, or a combination of these – and it is still part of the paid apprenticeship. Off-the-job does not have to mean off the premises. What makes training off-the-job is that it is structured learning towards the occupational standard rather than the apprentice's ordinary productive duties.
What about English and maths study?
Where English or maths study forms part of the apprenticeship, the employer must allow the relevant paid study time during normal working hours. Whether it is required at all depends on age and on qualifications already held – see Level 2 apprenticeships explained and Can I start an apprenticeship without grade 4 GCSE Maths or English?.
Do apprentices get holiday pay?
Yes. Apprentices are employees and have employee rights, and GOV.UK apprenticeship guidance states that apprentices get paid holiday. Full-time employees are generally entitled to statutory paid annual leave; the exact entitlement depends on working arrangements, and the employment contract should set out the apprentice's holiday terms.
Do apprentices pay tax?
Income tax and National Insurance rules apply in the normal way, according to earnings and the current thresholds. Being called an apprentice does not make earnings tax-free.
Do degree apprentices get paid too?
Yes. Degree apprentices are employees and receive a salary, as well as completing the degree the apprenticeship standard requires. That is a fundamental difference from a conventional full-time university student, who normally pays tuition fees and is not employed by an organisation simply by virtue of studying.
Does an apprentice have to pay for the training?
No. The apprentice should not be charged tuition fees for the funded apprenticeship training; funding runs through the apprenticeship funding system and employer and training-provider arrangements. See who pays for an apprenticeship?