Mirror Money has compiled together a full list which compares what the UK’s biggest supermarkets pay their store staff now and what increases are expected over the coming few months
Over the last few months several major supermarkets have upped wages – but which chain pays the most?
Major supermarket chains – including Aldi, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s – have all upped wages as they prepare for the new minimum wage to be introduced in April. From April 1, the National Living Wage will rise from £10.42 an hour to £11.44. At the moment, National Living Wage is paid to workers aged 23 and over, but this will drop to workers aged 21 and over from this April.
The National Minimum Wage is also rising. Those aged 18 to 20 years will see their wages rise from £7.49 to £8.60 an hour, and those under 18 years will see their rates go from £5.28 an hour to £6.40. Apprentice rates will also rise from £5.28 to £6.40. The Mirror has compiled together a full list which compares what the UK’s biggest supermarkets pay their store staff now and what increases are expected over the coming few months.
Aldi – £12.40 (currently £12)
Aldi last week announced its second pay rise of the year after upping it to £12 in February. The new minimum pay rates for staff were in line with the Real Living Wage set by the Living Wage Foundation (LWF) in October 2023.
This month, Aldi increased pay for store assistants and deputy store managers nationwide for the second time this year hiking it to £12.40. Aldi workers in London will see their pay rates rise from £13.55 to £13.65. The new pay rates will be introduced from June 1 this year.
Asda – £12.04 (currently £11.11)
Fellow supermarket chain Asda also announced a hike to wage this year with its hourly rates rising from £11.11 to £12.04 and from £12.28 to £13.21 for workers inside the M25. The new pay rates are to be introduced from July 1 this year. There will be an interim increase on April 1 to £11.44 an hour, and £12.61 for stores inside the M25, to meet the National Minimum Wage.
Co-op – £12 (currently £10.90)
Last month, the Co-Op announced that it would be raising hourly pay for its workers to £12 an hour nationally, up from £10.90, while those in London will see wages rise from £12.25 to £13.15. Alongside this, Co-Op team leaders’ pay will increase from £12.10 to £13.32 per hour. These pay changes will be introduced from Apri 1.
Lidl – £12
In January, Lidl announced it was raising entry-level rates for workers outside the M25 from £11.40 to £12, increasing to £13 with length of service. Those working within the ring road saw their rate increase from £12.85 to £13.55 and rising to £13.85 over time.
The pay hikes were introduced on March 1 and alongside this, the supermarket chain has introduced a bank holiday premium of £2 an hour and upped its nightshift premium to £3.50 per hour, while extending the timeframe in which it is payable by one hour.
M&S – £12 (currently £10.90)
In February, M&S announced it would raise wages for staff nationwide from £10.90 an hour to £12 from April 1. For those working in London, minimum hourly wages will rise from £12.05 to £13.15. For M&S’ UK Team Support Managers, the hourly rate will increase from £12.20 to £13.05, while for those in London, it will increase from £13.35 to £14.20.
Morrisons – £10.92
Morrisons increased its hourly pay rates last October when they raised the established rate for a customer assistant by 50p to £10.92 after upping it to £10.42 in June last year. For all stores in London, Morrisons pays a London location supplement of 85p per hour which takes the minimum rate of pay for staff within M25 to £11.77.
Morrisons has not announced an increase to its staff wages this year. The Mirror approached Morrisons for confirmation on any increases to wages from April 1 – however, did not respond at the time of writing. It will likely up wages from April 1 to match the Government’s National Living and Minimum wages.
Sainsbury’s – £12
At the start of the year, Sainsbury’s increased staff pay from £11 an hour to £12 an hour nationally and from £11.95 to £13.15 in London with the pay rises having rolled out this month. The supermarket chain said the increases would give its 120,000 workers an extra £1,910 a year nationally or an extra £2,290 a year in London.
Tesco – £12.02 (currently £11.02)
Earlier this month, Tesco announced it would be boosting the hourly rate for store staff by 9.1% taking it from £11.02 an hour to £12.02. The new rates will be introduced from April 28. Workers within the M25 will see their pay go up to £13.15 per hour, from £11.95 for those in inner London and £11.75 for those in outer London. Tesco also announced it will increase paternity leave to six weeks fully paid and raise maximum sick pay entitlement to 18 weeks.
However, Tesco has come under fire for this move as the new rates will be implemented almost a month after the legal minimum wage for those aged 21 and over increases to £11.44 from April 1. The delay is permitted under HMRC rules, which ensure minimum pay rates are applied from the start of the “pay reference period” beginning on or after 1 April. which for Tesco is on 28 April.
Waitrose – £11.55 (currently £10.50)
Waitrose currently pays its workers £10.50 nationally whilst workers within the M25 see an hourly pay of £11.72. When approached by the Mirror, the upmarket supermarket chain confirmed that it would be increasing pay rates from April 1. From next month, staff will be paid £11.55 nationally with London workers receiving an hourly wage of £12.89.
