We have no sourced figure for what trainee accountants are paid, so we do not publish one, and we do not guess. What we can show is national pay data for accounts and accountancy jobs, plus the legal minimum for apprentices. Use it as a rough guide to the range, not as an offer you should expect.
What ONS pay data shows
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). The table uses the 2026 provisional edition, published on 22 October 2026. It shows annual gross pay (before tax) for full-time employees across the UK, and it covers all experience levels. The pay periods are the tax year ending 5 April 2026.
| Occupation group | 10th percentile | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks ONS occupation code SOC 4122 | £25,157 | £28,277 | £32,598 | £42,056 |
| Chartered and certified accountants (ONS's own label) ONS occupation code SOC 2421 | £28,314 | £36,210 | £50,745 | £68,619 |
A percentile is the pay below which that share of jobs fall: a quarter of full-time jobs in the group pay less than the 25th percentile figure, and half pay less than the median. Figures are rounded to the nearest pound.
How to read this
- These are not trainee or starting salaries. They cover everyone in the occupation group, from new starters to very experienced people, so they say little about what a new starter will be paid.
- ONS groups jobs by the work done, not by the qualification held. The two groups above are ONS categories that include roles linked to the routes in this guide: book-keeping, payroll and wages roles, and chartered and certified accountants (ONS's own name for the second group). The second group is therefore unlikely to show trainee starting pay. A trainee may be classified in either, or elsewhere.
- ONS marks the 2026 figures as provisional and may revise them. The survey covers employees, so it does not include self-employed people. It also excludes part-time jobs from this table.
- Pay differs by employer, location and sector. This data does not break it down for you here, so look at the pay stated on each job advert.
Apprentice pay
For apprentices, the legal minimum from April 2026 is £8.00 an hour (£8.31 from April 2027) while you are under 19 or in the first year of the apprenticeship. After the first year, if you are 19 or over, the minimum for your age applies: £10.85 for 18 to 20, and £12.71 for 21 and over. Employers can pay more than the minimum, but we have no sourced figure for that, so we do not give one. See apprenticeships.
Study costs also matter
Pay is only one side of the picture. Fees, exams and tuition can add up, and some employers cover them. Compare the fee tables in each guide: AAT, ACCA, ACA (ICAEW) and CIMA, and ask any employer what they pay for.
General information only, not professional or financial advice. This guide does not recommend any course, employer or product, and does not give tax, accounting or financial advice.
Sources
Every fee, pay or exam figure on this page comes from the pages below. We read each one on 13 November 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the body's own page before you pay or decide.
- ONS: Earnings and hours worked, occupation by four-digit SOC (ASHE Table 14), 2026 provisional, released 22 October 2026, checked 13 November 2026.
- GOV.UK: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates, checked 13 November 2026.