Student wages and employment conditions in retail — what do you earn as a student?
How apprentice wages, agreements, and conditions work as a skilled worker — the principles you need to know
One of the great advantages of vocational education is that you get paid during most of the education. So you don't need to live on student grants and loans while learning the trade — you're employed in a shop and get apprentice wages. Here we go through the principles so you understand what determines your pay, and what awaits when you're trained.
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When you've concluded an apprenticeship agreement with a company you're employed and get apprentice wages. Wages begin from when the agreement takes effect regardless of your age. If you haven't yet found an apprenticeship and do basic course without agreement you can as an adult in some cases apply for student grant in that period — but apprentice wages themselves are tied to employment at a company.
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Student wages are structured so they increase the longer you are in the education. The principle is simple: the more you can, the more you are worth to the store and that is reflected in a higher rate for year 2 than for year 1 and so on. That way you feel the progress directly on your payslip as you get better.
§What is a collective agreement?
A collective agreement is an agreement between a trade union and an employers' organization about wage and conditions in an area. In the retail sector the central agreement is the National Agreement for Stores — in everyday language the Stores Agreement — concluded between HK Trade and Danish Business Employers. The agreement sets among other things minimum rates for apprentice wage in each year of education and there can be allowances if you have for example a upper secondary education as background.
The important thing to understand is that the agreement's rates are minimum rates. Your employer may well give you more and the pay can therefore vary from shop to shop. The concrete amounts are regulated periodically so always look up the current rates with your trade union or employer organization rather than relying on a number you have heard.
§Supplements and differences
Beyond the annual rate there can be factors that increase wages. If you have completed for example upper secondary education before the apprenticeship there may be a fixed monthly allowance. Working at odd times — evening weekends or public holidays — can add a shift supplement. The details depend on the specific agreement and your contract.
§When you become skilled.
When you have passed the final exam you are skilled. You go from apprentice wages to regular wages for a trained employee and you have a journeyman certificate that documents your competencies. With a professional certificate in hand you stand stronger both if you want to stay in the shop switch to another employer or build further with further education.
- 01You get paid from the moment the training agreement takes effect
- 02The rate increases for each year of training
- 03The agreement sets a minimum — you can agree on more
- 04Skilled status gives higher wage and a journeyman's certificate.