Are internships paid? If so, how much do interns get paid? These are questions people ask as they explore internship possibilities. The quick answer to the first question is, "Yes". For the most part, you will earn money as an intern, but there are conditions. This article examines them and presents other need-to-know information about this unique work situation.
General Intern Salary UK Guidelines
- As of April 2025, the minimum wage for workers aged 21 and up is £12.21/hour.
- For workers between 18 and 20 years old, the minimum wage is £10.00/hour.
- Workers under 18 and apprentices earn a minimum of £7.55/hour.
- By law, interns are paid according to their age bracket, but some exceptions exist.
Do You Get Paid For an Internship? UK Legal Requirements
If you’ve spent time trying to find internships you’ll know that competition is fierce for qualified internship positions. But what does UK law have to say about internships and pay?
The competition revolves around gaining desired skills and experience, rather than around possible pay cheques.
Interns have legal protections over possible earnings. Furthermore, the law presents specific scenarios when an intern may not be entitled to any pay.
The Government lays out official guidelines for intern salary UK, as well as for when interns are not entitled to a salary:
Student internships
Students required to do an internship of less than one year as part of a UK-based further or higher education course are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
School work experience
Students in school work experience placements are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
Work shadowing
The employer does not have to pay the minimum wage if the intern only observes the work and does not carry out any work.
Besides these three instances, one more work experience category falls under the pay exemption law:
Volunteer workers: workers are not entitled to the minimum wage if both of the following apply:
- They’re working for a charity, voluntary organisation, associated fundraising body or a statutory body
- Their work contract specifies that they do not get paid, except for limited benefits (for example, reasonable travel or lunch expenses)
In any scenario besides the four listed above, you are entitled to at least minimum wage while you are undertaking a paid internship.
This is the law regardless of where in the country you live, which industry you intern in, or which role you take as an intern.
Still, you can likely see how some unscrupulous companies may try to bend the rules to avoid paying interns anything. So, it's important for you to know - and claim! - your legal due.
Apprenticeships are not the same as internships, so they have different rules for pay.
As an intern or apprentice, insist on being paid at least the minimum you are owed.
Do Interns Get Paid? Internship Pay Explained
As noted above, most internships are paid, and there are laws protecting interns, whether or not they should be paid.
Historically, some employers have taken advantage of these schemes and offered internships as nothing more than a way to get some cheap labour.
Often, companies offering internships are criticised if they do not offer at least the minimum wage for those taking part.
Internship pay is often treated as a “bare minimum” proposition. Companies pay minimum wage on the understanding that the intern doesn’t have too much experience and will not take on any major responsibilities.
Somehow, that doesn't seem fair. But these low-wage positions offer you a chance to work your way up to a much better salary in the future.
Companies that welcome interns should handle intern pay in the same way as ordinary employees' pay. The firm's HR department will maintain a personnel file on you, and its finance department will calculate your wages. They are also responsible for transferring your wages to your bank account.
If you are getting paid in cash, it could be a sign that something is not in order.
You must insist on having a 'paper trail': legal documentation of your work and pay.
Should You Ever Do An Unpaid Internship?
Money makes the world go round.
Paul Van Der Merwe
We've all heard that old saying, and besides, who doesn't want money in their pocket? Still, prospective interns have legitimate reasons for accepting unpaid internships.
Though these are all valid points, they all remain if you're getting paid for your work. After all, the law - and most people - state that interns should be paid, especially qualified graduate interns who are already workforce-ready.
Intern Salary UK: A Case Study
Some educational establishments, such as the London School of Economics, have created their own virtual internships in the UK.
Forage virtual internship is one of the most popular options. This initiative helps students gain experience in certain industries without having to physically go to work.
Clifford Chance Virtual Internships are another example of an opportunity for people to complete virtual internships, but they will not be paid for them.
The paid-versus-unpaid internship debate continues to rumble on. In fact, these discussions are getting much louder and taking place on stages around the world. The TED talk below, relating to the “unpaid internship debate”, takes up the subject.
This discussion emphasises what most people agree on: that nobody should work for free, and no employer should expect - or have access to free labour.
Factors Affecting Internship Pay
As laid out in this article's first two chapters, the minimum internship salary UK is mandated by law. But nobody says you can't earn above that per-hour amount.
Lots of factors influence the compensation an intern receives, ranging from industry norms to individual circumstances and company policies.
Firstly, the industry in which the internship takes place plays a significant role in determining pay rates. Industries with high demand for skilled labour, such as finance or technology, typically offer more competitive intern salaries compared to sectors like non-profits or the arts. These sectors' funding may be limited or interns may actually be volunteers.
Company size and financial resources also impact intern pay.
Larger companies with extensive budgets may allocate more funds for intern salaries. The flipside is that smaller organisations or startups may offer lower compensation due to budget constraints.
Your age, experience, academic record, and enthusiasm may sway firms to boost your pay.
Your level of education and experience can influence your pay rate. Interns with advanced degrees, specialised skills, or relevant work experience may command higher salaries. Additionally, internships that require specialised knowledge or technical skills may offer higher pay to attract qualified candidates.
Geography and Intern Pay
Do interns get paid more in big cities than in rural areas? Yes, your geographic location can affect pay rates. Internships in major cities typically offer higher salaries to offset the location's higher cost of living.
London is a case in point. The cost of living in that city is so high that employers are compelled to pay more. Besides, you'll find more specialised internship opportunities in London, especially in finance, insurance, and technology.
Internship Salaries by Industry
In the UK, the internship salaries vary depending on the industry. This chart presents average intern salaries as of August 2025, as reported to Glassdoor, Indeed, and PayScale.
| 📊Internship Ranking | 🏭Industry | 🤑Average salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Banking | £32,666/year |
| #2 | Technology | £26,500/year |
| #3 | Financial Services | £24,420/year |
| #4 | Business | £25,413/year |
| #5 | Marketing | £21,306/year |
| #6 | Design | £21,004/year |
| #7 | Engineering | £24,420/year |
Be aware that higher-paid internships in London skew the national intern salary average. If you live in our capital city, you're more likely to earn closer to the top end of the salary range. By contrast, if you're in Bristol or Nottingham, count on your salary prospects resting closer to the range's lower end.
Intern Salary UK: Evaluating Your Prospects
Is an internship for you? It is crucial to weigh up all of the information above.
Naturally, your earning potential is a big question, but it shouldn't be the MAIN question. You'll get far more out of a qualified internship than a few coins in your pocket.
For many students, their internship gives them their first taste of working life.
This is valuable experience, worth far more than any cash you may earn. Still, paid internships are the norm and unpaid internships are only suitable in a limited set of circumstances.
Above all, remember that you do have legal protections that prevent companies from taking unfair advantage of your willingness to learn.
If you are thinking of applying for an internship, it may help to work with a public speaking or interview coach to prepare you for the process. You’ll likely face stiff competition, but you can find an interview coach here on Superprof.
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