Do AAT apprentices get paid as much as university graduates?

AAT · July 2013

It's a common misconception that to earn a top wage you have to go to university. It helps to have a qualification of any kind, and CEBR/AAT research conducted in 2013 indicated that over the course of a career, an apprentice can achieve earnings on a par with a university graduate. And with the number of graduates struggling to find a job rising year-on-year, studying through an apprenticeship can mean a head start in the employment market.

Don't forget that as an AAT apprentice you’ll also be earning a wage while you’re studying. This means you’re not being loaded with university debt and in a lot of cases you’re actually being paid to study.

The apprentice national minimum wage of £2.65 per hour applies to all 16 to 18 year olds and to those aged 19 and over in the first year of their apprenticeship. If you reach age 19 and have completed the first year of your apprenticeship your employer must pay you at least the full national minimum wage rate for those aged 18 to 20.

Some employers pay more than minimum wage, however, and, as in the professional world in general, when your skills and experience grow you can expect your salary to increase.

Finally, another thing to consider is that for many university students there’s no guarantee of a job once they graduate. Instead of struggling to find work or being overqualified, as a fully qualified AAT apprentice your career is set up perfectly. There’s also a good chance you’ll be promoted and your salary improved as you progress through AAT, demonstrating your commitment to your profession.

Hear AAT apprentice Arman's story: