Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s is the third largest supermarket chain in the UK.

sainsburys.co.uk

What’s the average pay for a food services assistant at Sainsbury’s?

The average pay for a food services assistant at Sainsbury’s is between £12.00 and £12.90 per hour.

The top paying employers for kitchen and catering assistants are IKEA, Sainsbury’s and Compass Group.

Last updated 21 April 2026

What is the Real Living Wage?

The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.

Location Real Living Wage
London £14.80
Rest of the UK £13.45

What is the legal minimum wage?

The minimum wage is the legal minimum you must be paid per hour.

Age group Legal minimum wage
21 or older £12.71
18-20 £10.85
Under 18 £8.00
Apprentices £8.00

How we know this

Based on data from 29 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2024 and April 2026.

More about pay at Sainsbury’s

Who pays kitchen and catering assistants the most?

Jobs at Sainsbury’s

  1. New — Posted today

    Argos Store Manager - Inside Sainsbury's

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £30.0k-45.8k per year
    Location London
    • Pays all ages fairly
    • Recommended by students
    • Proper breaks +2 more

  2. New — Posted yesterday

    Home Delivery Driver

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £13.50-15.18 per hour
    Location Manchester
    • Proper training
    • Pays all ages fairly
    • Respectful managers +2 more

  3. New — Posted yesterday

    Direct apply

    Home Delivery Driver

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £13.50-15.18 per hour
    Location Alton, Hampshire, GU34 1SS, United Kingdom
    Contract time Full time
    • Recommended by students
    • Proper training
    • Pays all ages fairly +2 more

  4. New — Posted yesterday

    Direct apply

    Trading Assistant - Shift

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £12.55-13.85 per hour
    Location Leeds, LS15 9JA, United Kingdom
    Contract time Part time
    • Recommended by students
    • Respectful managers
    • Proper breaks +2 more

  5. New — Posted yesterday

    Direct apply

    Trading Assistant - Shift

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £12.55-13.85 per hour
    Location York, North Yorkshire, YO32 9LG, United Kingdom
    Contract time Part time
    • Respectful managers
    • Proper training
    • Pays all ages fairly +2 more

  6. New — Posted yesterday

    Direct apply

    Trading Assistant - Shift

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £12.55-13.85 per hour
    Location Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 7AA, United Kingdom
    Contract time Part time
    • Pays all ages fairly
    • Recommended by students
    • Respectful managers +2 more

  7. New — Posted yesterday

    Direct apply

    Trading Assistant - Local

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £12.55-13.85 per hour
    Location Bath, BA2 3PJ, United Kingdom
    Contract time Part time
    • Proper training
    • Proper breaks
    • Recommended by students +2 more

  8. New — Posted yesterday

    Customer and Trading Manager - Nightshift

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £30.0k-45.8k per year
    Location Cheltenham
    Contract time Full time
    • Pays all ages fairly
    • Respectful managers
    • Proper breaks +2 more

  9. New — Posted yesterday

    Online Assistant

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £12.45-13.17 per hour
    Location Straiton
    • Proper training
    • Respectful managers
    • Pays all ages fairly +2 more

  10. New — Posted yesterday

    Customer and Trading Manager - Small Supermarket

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £30.0k-45.8k per year
    Location Hemel Hempstead
    • Proper breaks
    • Recommended by students
    • Respectful managers +2 more

  11. New — Posted yesterday

    Home Delivery Driver

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £13.50-15.18 per hour
    Location London
    • Proper breaks
    • Respectful managers
    • Pays all ages fairly +2 more

  12. New — Posted yesterday

    Trading Assistant

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £12.55-13.85 per hour
    Location Ottery Saint Mary
    • Respectful managers
    • Proper training
    • Pays all ages fairly +2 more

  13. New — Posted yesterday

    Home Delivery Driver

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £13.50-15.18 per hour
    Location Kingston upon Thames
    • Recommended by students
    • Proper breaks
    • Respectful managers +2 more

  14. New — Posted yesterday

    Direct apply

    Online Assistant

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £12.45-13.17 per hour
    Location Uxbridge, UB8 1QW, United Kingdom
    Contract time Part time
    • Respectful managers
    • Pays all ages fairly
    • Recommended by students +2 more

  15. New — Posted yesterday

    Direct apply

    Home Delivery Driver

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £13.50-15.18 per hour
    Location Rugby, Warwickshire, CV22 6HU, United Kingdom
    Contract time Part time
    • Recommended by students
    • Pays all ages fairly
    • Proper training +2 more

  16. New — Posted yesterday

    Online Assistant

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £12.45-13.17 per hour
    Location Shrewsbury
    • Pays all ages fairly
    • Proper breaks
    • Respectful managers +2 more

  17. New — Posted yesterday

    Trading Assistant - Shift

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £12.55-13.85 per hour
    Location Cheltenham
    • Recommended by students
    • Proper training
    • Proper breaks +2 more

  18. New — Posted yesterday

    Home Delivery Driver

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £13.50-15.18 per hour
    Location Exeter
    • Proper breaks
    • Respectful managers
    • Pays all ages fairly +2 more

  19. New — Posted yesterday

    Trading Assistant - Local

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £12.55-13.85 per hour
    Location Newport
    • Recommended by students
    • Proper training
    • Pays all ages fairly +2 more

  20. New — Posted yesterday

    Customer Advisor - Argos

    Sainsbury’s

    6.3
    Pay Estimated pay: £12.55-13.85 per hour
    Location Woking
    • Proper training
    • Respectful managers
    • Pays all ages fairly +2 more

See more jobs at Sainsbury’s

What are kitchen and catering assistants saying about pay at Sainsbury’s?

  • Best thing

    Easy work to speak

    Worst thing

    Company
    Shift notice
    Hours, unsocial no extra pay benefit

    6.8

    Trading assistant at Sainsbury’s, April 2026

    Report this review

  • Best thing

    Decent pay for age, somewhat flexible depending on manager

    Worst thing

    Stressful, long, have to deal with snobby customers

    4.4

    Assistant at Sainsbury’s, January 2026

    Report this review

  • Best thing

    The pay

    Worst thing

    A lot of bullying behind the scenes

    2.5

    Employee at Sainsbury’s, January 2026

    Report this review

  • Best thing

    Decent pay

    Worst thing

    Short breaks, very few workers at a time can be stressful, big workload

    2.8

    Trading assistant at Sainsbury’s, December 2025

    Report this review

  • Best thing

    Pay
    The people I work with
    Coversations

    Worst thing

    Managers
    Some colleagues
    Trying to take holiday
    Training
    Trying to take sickness

    2.6

    Food assistant at Sainsbury’s, December 2025

    Report this review
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