Domestic worker minimum wage checker 2026
Enter what you pay and the hours your worker works. The checker converts it to an hourly rate and compares it with the national minimum wage.
Your details
Below the minimum by (per month)
R239.87
Pay at least R5 239.87 per month for this work pattern
- Minimum per day
- R241.84
- Minimum per week
- R1 209.20
- Minimum per month
- R5 239.87
How we worked it out
- Paid hours per day8 hours
- Paid hours per week40 hours
- Paid hours per month (× 4⅓)173.33 hours
- Minimum per monthR5 239.87
R30.23 × 173.33 h
- You pay per monthR5 000.00
- Effective hourly rateR28.85
- ShortfallR239.87
- Compare cash wages only. This check does not count accommodation, food or other payments in kind.
Minimum pay for common work patterns (from 1 March 2026)
| Work pattern | Per day | Per week | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 hours × 5 days (45 h/week) | R272.07 | R1 360.35 | R5 894.85 |
| 8 hours × 5 days (40 h/week) | R241.84 | R1 209.20 | R5 239.87 |
| 8 hours × 3 days | R241.84 | R725.52 | R3 143.92 |
| 5 hours × 2 days | R151.15 | R302.30 | R1 309.97 |
| 3 hours × 1 day (paid as 4 hours) | R120.92 | R120.92 | R523.99 |
Monthly figures use 4⅓ weeks a month, the conversion in Sectoral Determination 7. The Department of Employment and Labour's flyer rounds this to 4.333, which gives a few cents less.
Overtime and long days
Ordinary hours are capped at 45 a week and 9 a day (for a 5-day week). Hours above that are overtime and must be paid at 1.5 times the rate. Use the payslip generator for a month with overtime.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage for domestic workers in 2026?
R30.23 an hour from 1 March 2026. The full national minimum wage applies to domestic workers, as it does to farm workers and most other workers.
How do I convert the hourly rate to a monthly wage?
Multiply the hourly rate by the hours worked in a week, then by 4⅓ (the number of weeks in an average month), as SD7 and the BCEA require.
My worker only comes for 3 hours. What do I pay?
Pay for at least 4 hours on any day worked: R120.92 at the 2026 minimum.
Can I count food or accommodation towards the minimum wage?
This checker compares cash wages only. Accommodation is a separate deduction, capped at 10% of the wage, and only for accommodation that meets SD7's standards.
When does the minimum wage change?
Usually on 1 March each year after the Minister publishes the new rate. This site will be updated when the 2027 rate is gazetted.