Hugh

An Army private earns (on average) £13866 pa, which if they worked a 40 hour week would be £6.66 per hour. But, since the average is 46 hours per week (see survey), this brings it down to £5.80. The national minimum wage is £5.35 - so you are right, they do earn more than the national minimum wage - 45p per hour more (with no overtime, and being exempted from the Working Time Regulations). And when you are in a combat zone, it is often 12 hours on, 12 hours off (if you are lucky) - all for £5.80 per hour

ArmySalaries

Survey

and a quote from the Chief of General Staff
DailyMail
"The newly appointed Chief of General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, has asked whether the men risking their lives are getting a fair wage.

The most recent Armed Forces Pay Review points out that the: 'Army said the proportion working excessive hours particularly among junior ranks was a concern.
"It is possible that junior ranks could earn below the national minimum wage if they consistently worked 55 hours and above (aged 22 and over) or 65 hours and above (aged between 18 and 21)."
There are few if any working weeks as short as 55 or 65 hours on the front line.
In besieged Helmand in Afghanistan, soldiers are often on duty for 16 hours or more a day, every day of the week.
A junior private with a year's post-training service earns £39.24 a day. There is an extra £6.02 separation allowance a day for being on overseas operations, giving a total of £45.26.
Based on a 16-hour working day, that's just £2.83 per hour. The minimum wage for anyone aged 22 or over is £5.35; £4.45 for those aged 18 to 21. Another way of looking at it is that a junior soldier under heavy fire over a 24-hour period in Helmand is being paid an extra 25p an hour above his standard wage for his trouble. "