Løn og ansættelsesvilkår som elev og færdiguddannet

One of the good things about vocational education is that you earn money along the way. When you have a training agreement and are taking the main course, you're employed in a company and get apprentice wages – so you're working while you learn the trade. The pay typically follows the agreement that applies in the workplace.

§Student wages that increase through the program

The principle in vocational educations is that apprentice wages rise as you progress through the program. The further you progress, the more you can, and the more you contribute to the company — and this is reflected in your wage. The specific rates are set in the collective agreement in the field and depend, among other things, on how far you are in your education. You do not need to negotiate the increases yourself; they are agreed between the parties and regulated at each collective agreement settlement.

§Adult student – different rates

If you are 25 when you start, you may be covered by adult apprentice wage rules. Adult apprentice pay is typically higher than ordinary apprentice pay and takes as its starting point a minimum wage level in the collective agreement. Whether you are entitled to adult apprentice pay and what it specifically amounts to depends on the collective agreement and your background — so it is worth getting clarified before you sign.

§What a collective agreement means for you

Løn og vilkår er som regel reguleret af en overenskomst, der er forhandlet mellem arbejdsgiverne og en faglig organisation. Overenskomsten fastlægger blandt andet lønniveau, arbejdstid, pension og ferie. Det betyder, at du ikke selv skal forhandle alt fra bunden, og at der er en aftalt ramme for, hvad du har krav på som elev.

• 01Lønnen forhandles typisk kollektivt, ikke individuelt fra bunden.
• 02The rates increase as you advance in your education.
• 03The agreement often also covers pensions, holidays and other terms.

§Terms as skilled

When you are fully trained you go from apprentice conditions to conditions as a trained employee. You go from apprentice wages to regular wages for skilled people in the field and you get full responsibility for the tasks you previously solved under training. Wages as a trained employee still depend on where you work – e.g. at an office in a media company in an IT department or as a freelancer – and on any collective agreement.

§Ask before you sign

Lønsatser og vilkår ændrer sig over tid og varierer mellem arbejdsgivere og aftaler. Den eneste sikre måde at kende dine præcise vilkår på er at bede om at se den gældende overenskomst eller din ansættelseskontrakt – og spørge din faglige organisation eller skolens vejleder, hvis noget er uklart.