A trip to England is no longer of much interest as it was 5 or 10 years ago. Nevertheless, there is still a demand for temporary workers. People considering going to this country mainly wonder: what are the earnings in the UK? Further in the article, we will try to answer this question.
Entry and stay in the UK
Please note that from October 1, 2021, new rules for entering and working in the UK in connection with Brexit, apply. People with the status of a settled or temporarily settled person in the UK, can present their identity card at the border until the end of 2025.
Other persons must have a valid passport with them. In addition, people going to the UK for work or for longer than 6 months (e.g. to study), are required to obtain a visa.
Types of work visa in the UK:
Skilled Worker Visa | *High net-worth individuals visa | Seasonal Worker visa T5 – Temporary Worker |
| It allows you to work for an employer approved by the Ministry of the Interior.Conditions for obtaining:1. minimum wage for work;2. certificate of “sponsorship” issued by the employer;3. taking up a job on the list of qualified occupations;4. work performed for an approved employer;5. knowledge of the English language. | There are three types of such visas:1. Global talents visa – for employees who stand out in a given industry;2. Visa for investors on the UK Stock Exchange;3. Visa for startups – for people opening a business in the UK* for people with assets of at least US 1 million dollars. | Allows you to perform seasonal work (e.g. farm work, harvest work, etc.).Conditions for obtaining:1. over 18 years of age;2. certificate (with a reference number) from a licensed sponsor (employer) from the UK;3. possession of funds that will allow for self-maintenance, i.e. about £1131 (€1278). |
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What is working in the UK like? – requirements and popular industries
With the decision by the UK to leave the EU, entry rules have been tightened. Before Brexit, it was easy to go to work in the UK without knowing the language. Nowadays, the use of the English language has become a basic requirement for employees from abroad. Despite the changes, England offers very good working conditions for foreign employees.
However, the list of requirements for foreign employees does not end with only knowledge of the English language. In the post-Brexit, the following are also required:
- certificates / licenses / attestations / diplomas (proving skills);
- financial background (if it is the first trip to the UK);
- experience (people with experience have a much better chance of being employed in England).
The popular industries in the UK
If you are thinking about going to work in England, be sure to check out the offers in the following industries:
- gastronomy / hospitality
- general construction
- transport / logistics
- cleaning
- care
- work in the warehouse
- gardening / farming / harvesting
Check out the list of the most demanded professions in the UK
AND WHERE ARE THE MOST FOREIGNERS IN ENGLAND?
- London
- Southampton
- Nottingham
- Cambridge
- Birmingham
National minimum wage in England – how much is it?
The national minimum wage in the UK is not the same for all workers.
It depends primarily on the age of the employee (the same as the age-old in the Netherlands). The rates are updated twice a year, in April and October.
From April 2023, gross hourly rates for individual age groups are as follows:
| Employee’s age | Gross hourly rate |
| Apprentice (this group includes people learning at school / apprenticeships) | £5,28 |
| Under 18 years old | £5,28 |
| From 18 to 20 years old | £7,49 |
| From 21 to 22 years old | £10,18 |
| Over 23 years old | £10,42 |
Read more on minimum wage in the UK in our previous article.
Earnings in the UK – how much is earned in England?
Before we move on to earnings, it is worth mentioning that in Great Britain there is a so-called Real Living Wage (RLW). This is nothing more than a real hourly rate, which is recommended to be paid to the employee in order to ensure decent living conditions in the UK (the rate is calculated on the basis of current food / accommodation prices, etc.).
In 2023, the RLW amounted to:
- £11.95 for London residents
- £10.90 for others
But! This is the only recommendation from the UK government. Employers may or may not offer the rates mentioned above.
Next, we will see how much can be earned on average, working in the UK:
| Industry / position | Average monthly gross earnings |
| Factory worker | £1600-1700 (€1811-1924) |
| Caregiver for the elderly | £1400-1500 (€1584-1698) |
| Waiter / Waitress | £1300-1400 (€1471-1584) |
| Construction worker | £1700-2000 (€1924-2263) |
| Cook | £1500-1700 (€1698-1924) |
| Warehouseman | £1500-1700 (€1698-1924) |
| Fitter | £2200-2300 (€2490-2603) |
Due to the fact that gastronomy is one of the industries with a high demand for foreign workers in the UK, many people willing to work ask themselves: how much will they earn in England doing a dishwasher?
Earnings in gastronomy, including dishwashing, start from £1300 gross/month (approx. €1471).
Another popular profession in the UK is driver (for trucks or buses). Earnings in the transport industry sometimes reach as much as £2000 gross/month (€2263).
Apart from that, it is worth mentioning about seasonal work in the UK. In the summer season, we can easily find work in harvesting / agriculture / gardening. The average salary of a seasonal worker is £1300-1400 gross/month (€1471-1584).
Remember! In almost every industry, earnings depend on:
- employer / agency that employs
- experience
- location
- acquired skills
- level of English language
- tips (in gastronomy)
Employment agencies in England for foreigners
You can find a job in the UK on our europa.jobs portal. However, due to the new entry rules and the obligation to complete additional formalities, we encourage you to use the services of employment agencies that employ foreigners in the UK. Here are some of them:
