How much do apprentices get paid?

High-growth industries like tech may pay over £25,000 for entry-level apprenticeship roles. Apprenticeship opportunities in other industries might pay less. Your apprenticeship wage also depends on what company you work for and the level of your position.

To help you understand how much you could earn as an apprentice, we'll guide you through the following:

The apprenticeship minimum wage is the basic hourly amount employers must pay apprentices. The minimum pay depends on your age and how long you’ve been an apprentice.

For example, the current apprentice wage for those aged 16-18 is £4.81 per hour. But if you’re 19 or over and have completed your first year, you’re entitled to the National Minimum Wage(opens new window) for your age group.

Here’s a breakdown of the minimum hourly wage for apprentices depending on your age and year of study:

The National Minimum Wage for apprentices is the minimum your employer must pay you. Many organisations (including Multiverse) pay you much more than the National Minimum Wage rate to complete your apprenticeship. For instance, if you’re entering a high-growth and in-demand field like tech, wages tend to be higher than the minimum.

At Multiverse, the companies we work with pay a minimum of £18,000 a year. But you’ll find roles on our platform (opens new window)that pay £25,000 or more per annum (per year). We focus on the skills of the future, offering high-quality apprenticeship opportunities across key sectors like Business, Digital and Tech.

Multiverse programmes include:

Let’s break it down. Your apprenticeship salary is the amount an employer pays you yearly before income tax and other deductions like National Insurance. How much income tax you pay depends on which tax band you’re in, and your total earnings determine your tax band.

You’re likely in the basic band if you’re working in an entry-level role. In the basic band, you’re taxed on income between £12,571 to £50,270(opens new window). You don’t pay tax for income below £12,570 (your tax-free Personal Allowance limit). The UK Government taxes earnings in this threshold at 20%.

You’re in the next tax band (the higher rate) if you earn above the basic rate threshold. In the higher rate tax band, you’ll be taxed 40% for income between £50,271 and £150,000.

Now for the maths. Let’s say your salary is £20,000 per annum (per year), and you’re doing an apprenticeship lasting 15 months. Yearly you’ll take home around £17,624 after tax and National Insurance. Monthly you’ll take home around £1,468. Throughout your entire apprenticeship, you’ll earn £22,020.

You must work at least 30 hours weekly to complete your apprenticeship full-time. Sometimes (say you’re a carer for a family member), you can work part-time and do an apprenticeship programme. You might work 16 hours per week, but it will take longer to complete your apprenticeship.

Your employer will also need to follow employment regulations for your working hours. If you’re a young worker(opens new window) (under 18), you can’t work more than 40 hours a week or eight hours daily by law. If you’re over 18, you usually can’t work more than 48 hours a week(opens new window) on average.

Aside from your set working hours, you’ll typically spend at least one day a week studying toward your apprenticeship qualification.

Whether you complete your apprenticeship full-time or part-time, your employer will pay you for working and training hours. Aside from being paid to complete your apprenticeship, you’re legally entitled to employee benefits like holidays, sick pay and rest breaks.

As an apprentice, you’ll be paid for your time at work. You’re also paid for the time you’re in coaching sessions and bootcamps with industry experts (off the job training). You’ll spend 80% of your time working for your employer and  20% of your time doing off the job training. You’ll also be paid for time working towards English and Maths qualifications if they’re part of your apprenticeship.

As a full-time apprentice, you’re entitled to a minimum amount of paid holiday. For each year of your qualification, you’ll get at least 20 days of holiday pay plus bank holidays. Many employers provide apprentices well above the minimum paid holiday and offer company-wide shutdowns once a year.

If you’re too ill to work, sick pay offers peace of mind. You’re entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)(opens new window) as an apprentice. The minimum amount is £99.35 a week for 28 weeks. Some companies offer sick pay schemes that pay more than the basic weekly amount. For example, an employer might offer up to two weeks of paid sick leave at your usual weekly rate.

You’re legally entitled to rest breaks at work like any other employee. If you’re under 18 and your working day is longer than 4.5 hours, your employer must give you a 30-minute break. If you’re 18 or over(opens new window), you’ll get a 20-minute break if you work more than six hours daily. As with holiday and sick pay, many companies will offer apprentices above the minimum amount. For instance, you might get up to an hour for lunch and shorter breaks throughout the day.

There’s never been a better time to start your apprenticeship journey. An apprenticeship empowers you to join high-growth industries and gain independence faster than other programmes. To top it off, you’ll get paid to learn. Let’s look at the main benefits of becoming an apprentice so you can decide if it’s right for you.

Apprentices are in demand across the board, especially in high-growth sectors. Let’s take the tech industry as an example. In 2022 there were over 85,000 tech scale-ups and startups(opens new window) in the UK. The UK tech sector is still growing in 2023, and companies need new, diverse talent.

Also, 82% of decision-makers(opens new window) “expect basic data literacy from employees in every department”. Now’s the time to level up your skills in areas like tech, business and finance to stay competitive in the job market.

All apprentices get paid to work and learn. Some industries pay more than others. Companies with a skills gap will happily pay you to complete your apprenticeship and gain industry expertise in your field. (Whether you’re looking to upskill and progress in an existing role or start a new career in tech, this applies.)

Multiverse partners pay entry-level tech apprentices between £18,000 to £25,000 a year. Plus, your earning potential will grow as you work through your qualification.

Say you’re an entry-level Data Analyst studying an Advanced Data Fellowship apprenticeship. You get paid £24,000 a year while you qualify and gain transferable skills. By completing the programme, you’ll join a career landscape where Data Analysts make from £29,000 to £42,000(opens new window) a year.

Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to kickstart your career and improve your financial circumstances earlier in life. If you’re a school, college or Sixth Form leaver looking to join the career ladder, an apprenticeship will give you a headstart. For example, you’ll be three to four years ahead of university students and without debt.

Achieving an apprenticeship also makes it easier to find your next opportunity. Whether that’s a new role in a different company or progressing within your existing organisation. As well as learning on your apprenticeship, you’ll also hold a legitimate job title within your team.

Throughout your role, the company will treat you like another team member, and you’ll make a genuine impact within your organisation. All of this is relevant work experience for your resume and future interviews.

Having a monthly salary and job security is a great way to support yourself as a young adult. Plus, earning and spending your own money teaches you skills like budgeting and spending responsibly.

You could spend your salary finding a place to rent, travelling, having new experiences, or saving for a rainy day. Regular income will also improve your credit and make securing a mortgage or car payment easier.

Earning money and learning new skills is one of the fastest tracks to independence. With an apprenticeship, you’ll earn immediately rather than waiting until after university.

After you finish your apprenticeship, your company may offer you a permanent position with a promotion. Promotions usually come with a pay rise as compensation for your newfound experience and responsibilities.

You could be offered a permanent position without a pay rise. You could accept this offer if you’re happy with your role and salary. If the company you're working for doesn’t offer you a permanent position, you can look elsewhere. Having a new qualification and work experience at a top company will help you when looking for a new role.

An apprenticeship is a great way to join a high-growth industry, kickstart your career, earn a salary and avoid student debt. It helps you get your foot in the door at a top company, where your hard work can create opportunities for progression and promotion.

If an apprenticeship feels like the right fit for you, apply for a Multiverse programme(opens new window). In about ten minutes, you’ll fill out a profile of your interests and goals. Then, we’ll schedule a call to learn more about you and which apprenticeship programme and company would suit you best.