UK Supermarket Jobs: What Tesco, Aldi and Lidl Pay in 2026

Step 1 of 3: Job overview

UK supermarkets raised pay in 2026: Aldi says store assistants now start on £13.50 an hour, Lidl on £13.45 and Tesco on £13.28, all above the £12.71 National Living Wage. Below you'll see each chain's rate, what the job involves and who it suits. The next page shows exactly what you need to qualify.

Pick the hours you're after, and we'll show you the requirements next.

Which hours suit you best?

🌅 Early mornings See requirements → ☀️ Daytime See requirements → 🌙 Evenings or nights See requirements → 🕒 Part-time or weekends See requirements →

🛒 What a supermarket customer assistant does

A customer assistant (also called a store assistant or retail colleague) keeps the shop running for customers. The job usually mixes several tasks across a shift.

• Serving customers on the tills and self-checkouts
• Filling shelves and moving stock from the warehouse to the shop floor
• Checking dates, prices and labels
• Helping customers find products and answering questions
• Keeping the store clean, tidy and safe
• Picking online orders in some stores

Aldi describes the role as being ready to open another till when queues build up and moving stock without waiting to be asked. Lidl says you'll keep the store clean and organised while helping customers with their questions.

💰 What UK supermarkets pay (2026)

These are the entry-level hourly rates each chain announced for 2026. Rates inside London (the M25) are higher.

Some chains pay more as you stay longer. Aldi says its rate rises to £14.47 nationally with length of service, and Lidl says its rate rises to £14.45. Asda moved to £12.71 in April 2026 before its £13.10 rate started in July.

For comparison, GOV.UK's National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour from 1 April 2026, with £10.85 for 18 to 20 year olds and £8.00 for under-18s.

Want to know if you meet the age and right to work rules? It only takes a minute to check.

🕒 Shifts and hours

Supermarkets open early and close late, so there's usually a wide choice of hours. The National Careers Service says retail staff often work evenings, weekends and bank holidays on a rota.

• Part-time contracts: common in stores, which makes the job popular with students and parents
• Early starts: shelf-filling and deliveries often begin before opening
• Night shifts: some larger stores restock overnight, and Aldi says it pays night workers a premium rate
• Seasonal roles: the National Careers Service notes you could start as a temporary assistant at busy times like Christmas

Lidl says shift patterns differ by role and are set out in each job advert, so read the hours carefully before you apply.

⭐ Staff discount and perks

Pay is only part of the package. Here's what the chains publish about benefits:

• Lidl: a 10% in-store discount card and 30 to 35 days' holiday a year (pro rata)
• Aldi: paid breaks for all colleagues, which it says are worth about £1,500 a year to the average store colleague, plus 50% extra for bank holiday hours
• Sainsbury's: staff discounts it says can save over £600 a year on an £80 weekly shop, plus free food during shifts
• Tesco: its adverts mention a Colleague Clubcard with 10% off at Tesco

Next up: the age rules, the documents you'll need and how the online application and assessment work.

📈 Where the job can lead

A customer assistant job is often a first step rather than a final stop. Lidl's careers site, for example, lists store roles from customer assistant up to retail shift manager, deputy store manager, store manager and area manager.

The National Careers Service puts typical sales assistant pay at about £19,000 a year for starters and £27,000 for experienced staff. It also lists apprenticeships, such as the Retailer Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, as another way in.

• Supervisor or shift leader: running the shop floor and the team on a shift
• Department roles: looking after an area such as fresh food, bakery or online orders
• Store management: some chains run graduate and apprenticeship schemes for future managers
• Warehouse or head office: supermarkets also hire for distribution centres and support offices

If you're keen to move up, tell your manager early. Many stores fill supervisor roles from their own team.

🙋 Who this job suits

• You enjoy talking to people and helping customers
• You want part-time or flexible hours around study or family
• You want a first job with no experience needed
• You like a busy shift where time goes quickly

It can be tiring: you'll stand for long periods, lift stock and handle busy queues. If you prefer quiet work, think about which shifts would suit you best. Night and early-morning shifts are often more about stock than customers.

Curious whether you'd pass the checks? The requirements page lays them out in plain English.

✅ What to expect next

Supermarket hiring usually starts online. You fill in an application, sometimes take a short online assessment, then attend an interview. Aldi, for example, says its process can include a short video interview and then a group or individual interview with an Area Manager.

On the next page: the age rules for each chain, right to work documents, how online assessments work and the mistakes that get applications rejected.

🔥 Other jobs hiring now

Not sure retail is for you? These UK jobs also hire people without experience.

Disclaimer: This is an independent information website. We are not Tesco, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Lidl, Asda or any retailer, we are not an employer, and we do not hire anyone or collect job applications. Pay, benefits and hiring rules change often and vary by location, so always check the details on the official careers site or job advert before you apply. Never pay anyone to get a job.