How Much Do Apprentices Get Paid in 2026? Apprenticeship Wages Explained

If you’re weighing up an apprenticeship, the first practical question is usually: what will I actually earn? Here are the current rates and how they really work.

The apprentice minimum wage in 2026

Since 1 April 2026, the apprentice minimum wage is £8.00 per hour. This rate applies if you’re under 19, or if you’re 19 and over but still in the first year of your apprenticeship.

Once you turn 19 and have finished your first year, you must legally be paid the normal minimum wage for your age: £10.85 per hour for 18 to 20 year olds, and £12.71 per hour (the National Living Wage) at 21 and over. This step up catches many apprentices and employers out — it happens automatically, and you’re entitled to it.

Many employers pay more

The apprentice rate is a legal minimum, not a going rate. Looking at live listings on Valueplacement right now, Berkshire apprenticeships range from the national minimum up to £17,000 or more a year, with some IT roles advertising up to £24,000. Larger employers and in-demand sectors (engineering, IT, professional services) tend to pay well above minimum to attract good applicants.

You’re paid for training time too

Your wage covers your normal working hours and the time you spend training — including your college or training-provider day. If your contract is 38 hours a week and one day is at college, you’re paid for all 38.

What else you get

Apprentices are employees, so you get at least 20 days of paid holiday plus bank holidays, sick pay entitlements, and a pension once you meet the age and earnings thresholds. You’ll also qualify for an Apprenticeship discount card and, in many areas, discounted travel.

Doing the sums

At £8.00 an hour on a 38-hour week, a first-year apprentice earns around £15,800 a year. That’s less than some full-time jobs — but you’re being paid to gain a qualification that others pay university fees for, with no student debt and a strong chance of a pay rise on completion. Government figures consistently show completed apprenticeships lead to higher lifetime earnings.

Ready to compare real wages? Browse current apprenticeship listings across Berkshire on Valueplacement — every listing shows the actual pay.