M&S is increasing entry-level hourly pay for store workers from 1 April to £13.41 nationally and £14.74 in London.
The rise, which will benefit 55,000 workers, is an increase of 6.4% from current M&S rates of £12.60 nationally and £13.85 in London.
It is twice the CPI rate of inflation of 3% year on year in January, and above the new national living wage from April of £12.71 an hour.
However, it is below the real living wage for 2026, set at £13.45 an hour nationally and £14.80 an hour in London. In 2025, M&S was one of the few retailers matching the real living wage, which is set by the Living Wage Foundation and intended to represent the true cost of living.
Of major grocers to so far announce their new rates for 2026/27, Aldi and Lidl are the only ones matching the real living wage both nationally and in London. As of 1 March, Lidl’s new rates are in line with the real living wage at £13.45 nationally and £14.80 in London. From the same date, Aldi’s are higher, at £13.50 nationally and £14.88 in London.
Read more: How much do supermarkets pay their staff?
M&S said it had invested more than £350m in staff pay in the past four years, equivalent to an increase of over 34% for employees. Staff also benefit from a 20% discount on M&S branded products and up to 12% employer pension contributions.
“Our store colleagues are at the heart of our business, welcoming and serving our customers every day and it is important that we invest in them and their pay,” said M&S CEO Stuart Machin.
“This is a good cost and I am pleased that we have been able to make this inflation-beating pay award, alongside our leading package of benefits. This investment reflects the central role our people play as we reshape M&S for growth.
“As always I thank our colleagues for their continued hard work and commitment.”
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