What is the Apprentice National Minimum Wage?

There are quite strict guidelines around the minimum employers should pay their apprentices. 

The minimum that apprentices are entitled to depends on their age and length of time on a programme. Starting at £3.50 (as of April 2017) per hour – if an apprentice is under 19 or in their first year – this rises to £5.55 in the second year for those aged 18 to 20, then to £6.95 for 21-24-year-olds, and then up to the National Living Wage of £7.20 if they are over 25.

Apprentices aged 18 must be paid the standard National Minimum Wage after 12 months, as of April 2017, hence the lift up to £5.55 an hour for apprentices falling into the 18-22 bracket. Those younger or within the first year of their programme will receive at least £3.50 an hour as of April 2017, up from the previous rate of £3.40 an hour.

This comes after the minimum wage for apprentices increased from £3.30 an hour to £3.40 in October 2016, along with a rise in the general National Minimum Wage.

Employers are free to pay above the new wage and many do so, but employers must ensure that they are paying their apprentices at least the minimum wage.

The average weekly wage for an apprentice is actually around £200, dependant on the sector, region and apprenticeship level. For example, some higher apprenticeships can pay as much as £300-£500 per week.

Those who do get paid the minimum might be eligible to receive benefits from the government on top of their wage: it’s worth exploring the funding options out there.

Higher Apprenticeships and Degree Apprenticeships often pay higher than the National Minimum Wage and National Apprenticeship Minimum Wage; a £16,000 starting salary, for example, with regular pay reviews just like a standard employee would receive. Some HIgher Apprenticeship employers pay as high as £23,000 per year.