New research published on apprenticeship pay will help young people to make more informed choices about their future careers.

The survey of 5,500 work-based apprentices – the first of its kind to analyse pay by sector - shows that those on Government approved schemes are taking home over £500 a month on average. The highest paid in the electro technical sector are netting an average pay of £183 per week. However, the research has identified a £40 per week average pay gap between male and female apprentices. This can largely be explained by the high level of gender segregation in many of the sectors.

Skills Minister Phil Hope said: “More young people than ever before are choosing Apprenticeships as a way of picking up highly marketable skills quickly and starting to earn as they learn their profession. The research shows that Apprentices can make significant earnings whilst training. But young people need to make the right choices about the Apprenticeships to take up, and knowing about potential earnings is a vital part of their decision. The research which covered the sectors with the highest numbers of apprenticeships will be available to Connexions Advisors to ensure young people can be given more information about the pay in different sectors."


Frances O’Grady, Deputy General Secretary of the Trades Unions Congress said: “The TUC believes that Apprenticeships give young people a real opportunity to earn and learn. While the findings of the research are largely encouraging it is essential that all apprentices get high quality training, support at work and good pay to encourage them to stay the distance.
“We must also ensure that there is not a huge disparity at this early stage between the earnings in so-called 'jobs for the boys' and 'jobs for the girls'. Our new leaflet for apprenticeships sets out their rights as an apprentice and how unions can help secure these rights.”