Apprenticeships in 2026: Pay, Levels, Who Hires and How to Apply (UK)

An apprenticeship is a paid job with training built in. You work for an employer, earn a wage, and spend part of your time (usually at least a day a week) on study that leads to a recognised qualification. They run from Level 2 (GCSE equivalent) to Level 7 (master's equivalent), and they are open to adults as well as school leavers. This guide covers pay, levels, who hires, the trade-offs against university, and how to apply.

Pay

The legal minimum for apprentices is lower than the main minimum wage: from April 2026 the apprentice rate is £8.00 an hour, and it applies if you are under 19, or 19 and over in the first year of the apprenticeship. After the first year, if you are 19 or over, you are entitled to the full National Minimum or Living Wage for your age (£12.71 for over-21s).

Many employers pay well above the minimum. On 19 October 2026, CareerAlert held 622 live adverts with "apprentice" or "apprenticeship" in the title; where they stated an annual salary, the typical figure was around £27,000, with larger employers in engineering, finance and IT at the top of that range. Degree apprenticeships at large companies regularly start above £20,000 and rise each year.

The levels

Level	Equivalent to	Typical length	Examples
2 (Intermediate)	5 GCSEs	12 to 18 months	Care, warehousing, hospitality, customer service, construction operative
3 (Advanced)	2 A levels	18 to 36 months	Electrical, plumbing, early years, business admin, vehicle technician
4 and 5 (Higher)	HNC / foundation degree	2 to 4 years	Engineering technician, accounting, nursing associate, software developer
6 and 7 (Degree)	Bachelor's / master's	3 to 6 years	Civil engineering, digital and technology, nursing, chartered management, solicitor

Who hires

The sectors with the most apprenticeship adverts track the sectors with the most jobs: engineering (24,457 live adverts overall), construction (15,383), health and social care, education, and IT. Large employers run structured annual intakes (applications often open in autumn for a September start); small employers, especially in trades, recruit year-round and often informally. Once qualified, the pay in those trades is strong: electricians typically advertise £43,045 a year and £26.00 an hour, plumbers £39,330, vehicle mechanics £43,500.

Apprenticeship or university?

	Apprenticeship	University
Cost to you	None; training is funded	Tuition and living costs, usually as a loan
Income during	A wage from day one	Usually none, or part-time work
Experience at the end	Several years in the job	Placements if the course has them
Flexibility to change direction	Lower; you have trained for a role	Higher for broad degrees
Entry competition	High for big-employer degree apprenticeships	Depends on course
Social side	A workplace	A campus

For trades, engineering, accounting, nursing and most of IT, an apprenticeship gets you to the same place as a degree with pay instead of debt. For careers that require a specific degree (medicine, academia, some sciences), or if you do not yet know what you want to do, university keeps more doors open.

How to apply

1. Search the official service. The government's Find an Apprenticeship service lists vacancies in England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own services.
2. Search job boards too. Many small employers advertise apprenticeships as ordinary jobs. Search "apprentice" and your trade on CareerAlert and set an alert.
3. Apply early for big intakes. Large employers close applications months before the start date.
4. Treat it as a job application. CV, cover letter, interview. Employers choose apprentices on attitude and reliability more than grades; say why you want this trade or field, specifically.
5. Check the training provider. Ask who delivers the off-the-job training, how often, and what qualification you finish with.

FAQ

How much do apprentices get paid in the UK?

The legal minimum is £8.00 an hour from April 2026 for under-19s and first-year apprentices, rising to the full minimum wage for your age after the first year if you are 19 or over. Advertised apprenticeships on CareerAlert typically offer around £27,000 a year where a salary is stated, with large employers above that.

Can adults do apprenticeships?

Yes. There is no upper age limit. Adults are common in care, driving, trades and management apprenticeships, and after the first year you are paid at least the full minimum wage for your age.

Do you get a qualification?

Yes. Every apprenticeship ends in a recognised qualification at its level, from a Level 2 certificate to a full degree, plus the years of experience.

Next step

Set up a free alert for apprenticeships in your town, or search a specific trade such as "apprentice electrician". For adults weighing up a switch, see which fields advertise entry routes.