Aldi announces huge pay increase for staff in March 2026 | Personal Finance | Finance
Aldi retains its title as the highest-paid supermarket in the UK as it plans to pay its staff as much as £15.03 per hour. The change will take place on Sunday 1 March and will come with a range of other benefits for staff to enjoy. The pay rise is part of a £36 million investment in pay and benefits by Britain’s fourth-largest supermarket.
The discount supermarket has announced it will increase the starting pay for shop assistants to £13.35 per hour nationwide, while those working in an Aldi store within the M25 will receive £14.71 per hour. This marks an increase from £13.02 and £14.35 respectively. Prices are higher depending on the length of service. People paid £13.95 per hour (the national rate) will rise to £14.30, while those working on £14.66 on the M25 will rise to £15.03.
The supermarket is also increasing maternity pay, taking full pay to 26 weeks. Pay rates for shop apprentices rise to £12.02 per hour outside the M25 and £13.22 per hour within the M25.
Aldi remains the only supermarket in the UK to offer paid lunch breaks to its employees. It estimates this gives store workers around £1,470 more per year.
Giles Hurley, CEO of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “Our colleagues are at the heart of everything we do. Their hard work and dedication is what enables us to provide our customers with the quality, value and service they expect from Aldi. That’s why we’re making such a significant investment in our promise to our colleagues that we’ll never be outdone.”
Aldi has an active member career website In this way, people can find vacant positions and apply.
In August last year, Aldi became the first UK supermarket to pay its workers £13.02 per hour, well above the national minimum wage.
In April 2026, the minimum wage will rise to £12.71 for individuals over the age of 21 and £10.85 for those aged 18-20. However, it will still be lower than Aldi’s rates.
Aldi is the UK’s fourth largest supermarket and employs more than 45,000 people in more than 1,000 stores across the country. The German-based supermarket has been operating in the UK since 1990.
