There’s a persistent rumour online that Aldi pays “£14 an hour” for everything. That’s slightly off—it’s £12.40 for standard hours, but after a few years, you creep up. Plus, they offer a loyalty bonus of £2.50 per hour after 6 months if you stick around. So do the maths: after half a year, you’re on £14.90 in the regions, or £15.65 in London. That’s basically the Gini coefficient of retail salaries.
Aldi becomes first supermarket to pay workers £12 per hour
But—and it’s a big ‘but’—you have to wear those bright blue aprons. The ones that scream, “I’m efficiently restocking your impulse-buy quinoa chips.” And the uniforms are free, so it’s not like they’re charging you to look like a Smurf in a warehouse.
So, Should You Apply?
Yes, if you want a solid hourly wage with paid breaks and free uniform. No, if you hate moving quickly. They literally measure your scan rate. But for £12.40 an hour, I’d run laps of the cereal aisle. It’s a great gig for students, retirees, or anyone who enjoys saying “I work at Aldi” and watching people nod approvingly.
Just remember: you’ll spend half your money on those weird chocolate bars with hazelnuts. You’ve been warned.
