Domestic worker salaries in South Africa in 2026

Domestic workers in South Africa are entitled to a minimum wage of R30.23 per hour in 2026. This will soon rise as the National Minimum Wage Commission plans adjustments for 2027. 

The current hourly minimum wage translates into a weekly rate of R1,264.85 and a monthly wage of R5,894.40. This is based on a 45-hour working week. 

The National Minimum Wage is the lowest remuneration rate that employers are legally required to pay their employees for each ordinary hour worked.

Data from online home services platform SweepSouth indicates that domestic workers may be paid significantly less in reality. 

The company collected data from 5,039 domestic workers who use its platform to find work, compiling the 8th edition of its Annual Sweepsouth Report on Domestic Worker Pay and Working Conditions. 

This revealed that the average SweepStar earned R5,545 per month in 2025. The average non-SweepStar earned R3,932 per month. 

This shows a large discrepancy between the stated minimum wage domestic workers should be paid and what they actually earn. 

The good news is that SweepSouth’s data show domestic worker earnings are growing strongly at 5.8% per annum. 

This is above inflation and above the national minimum wage increase for domestic workers of 4.4% in 2025. 

SweepSouth data also showed that domestic workers are likely to earn significantly more if they work for one employer or client rather than part-time for multiple employers or clients. 

However, those who work part-time often earn more per hour, but because they work fewer hours, they earn less per month. 

On average, a domestic worker works for 7.1 hours a day. This translates into earnings of R210 per day or R4,000 per month. 

The majority of domestic workers work three to five days a week, which impacts their monthly earnings by reducing the total hours worked. 

Domestic worker earnings are set to rise in 2027, with the National Minimum Wage Commission kickstarting its consultation process for wage adjustments on 5 August. 

The commission will submit its recommendations to the Labour Minister in late 2026, after which a new national minimum wage will be gazetted. 

National Minimum Wage hikes are typically in line with inflation, with the commission having a bias for above-inflation increases. 

The Reserve Bank expects inflation to average 4.4% in 2026, with some commercial banks expecting a lower average of 4%. 

Assuming the commission increases the minimum wage in line with inflation, the hourly rate will rise from R30.23 to R31.56.