Minimum Wage Calculator South Africa 2026

South Africa's National Minimum Wage — 2026 Update

South Africa's National Minimum Wage (NMW) is set at R30.23 per ordinary hour worked, effective 1 March 2026. This rate was announced by the Minister of Employment and Labour on 3 February 2026 in Government Gazette No. 54075, and represents a 5% increase from the previous rate of R28.79 per hour.

The NMW is the legal floor below which no employer may pay any worker in South Africa. It applies to all employment sectors — full-time, part-time and casual workers alike. An employer who pays below the NMW is in breach of the National Minimum Wage Act No. 9 of 2018 and may face enforcement action, penalties and a back-pay order.

What the 2026 Rate Means in Practice

Who Does the Minimum Wage Apply To?

The NMW applies to all employees in South Africa — with very limited exceptions. The NMW Act defines an employee broadly and includes part-time workers, casual workers, temporary workers and home-based workers.

Domestic Workers — Now at Full NMW

Domestic workers are entitled to the full NMW of R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026. Their rate was brought in line with the standard NMW in 2022, closing a historical gap where domestic workers were paid at a lower rate. This means cleaning staff, nannies, gardeners and housekeepers all earn the same minimum as other workers.

Employers of domestic workers should be aware of an important deduction rule: if accommodation is provided, the employer may deduct a maximum of 10% of the worker's wage for that accommodation — not the full value of the accommodation.

Farm Workers — Also at Full NMW

Farm workers are equally entitled to R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026. Like domestic workers, their rates were aligned with the national minimum in 2022. The BCEA provides additional protections for farm workers including access to housing and the 4-week notice period from 6 months of service.

EPWP Workers — Separate Rate

Workers employed under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) fall under a separate rate of R16.62 per hour from 1 March 2026, up from R15.83. The EPWP covers government-funded public works projects and has its own legislative framework that justifies the separate rate.

Sector-Specific Minimum Wages (Sectoral Determinations)

Some sectors have their own minimum wage determinations that set rates above the general R30.23/hour floor. These sectoral determinations were updated alongside the general NMW in Government Gazette No. 54075, with the same effective date of 1 March 2026.

Contract Cleaning (Sectoral Determination 1)

Contract cleaning employees are entitled to a higher minimum wage than the general NMW, with the rate depending on location:

In KwaZulu-Natal, contract cleaning wages and conditions are governed by the collective agreement of the Bargaining Council for the Contract Cleaning Service Industry (BCCCI) rather than the SD1 rates above.

Wholesale and Retail (Sectoral Determination 9)

The wholesale and retail sector has its own job-category-based wage scale, also higher than the general NMW for most roles. A sample of full-time (more than 27 hours/week) rates:

Area A covers major metropolitan and local municipalities (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini and others listed in the gazette); Area B covers municipalities not listed under Area A. The full schedule covers 15 job categories from general assistant through to manager, with separate rates for employees working 27 hours or less per week — see Government Gazette No. 54075 for the complete table.

Learnership Allowances (Schedule 2)

Workers on a registered learnership agreement under the Skills Development Act are paid a weekly allowance instead of the NMW, scaled by NQF level and the number of credits already earned:

Every learner, regardless of NQF level, starts at R455.00 per week for their first 0–120 credits earned. The allowance increases as the learner progresses through credit bands, with higher-NQF-level learnerships reaching higher ceilings.

Step-by-Step Minimum Wage Calculation

How much should a domestic worker who works 6 hours a day, 5 days a week earn per month?

Am I Being Paid Fairly?

Enter your current hourly wage in the calculator above and it will instantly tell you whether you are being paid at, above, or below the national minimum wage. If you are being paid below the minimum, you have the right to raise this with your employer — and if unresolved, to refer a dispute to the CCMA free of charge.

Keep in mind that the NMW is a floor, not a target. Many South African workers — and most formal sector employees — earn well above the minimum wage. The NMW exists to protect the most vulnerable workers in informal, casual and domestic employment where bargaining power is lowest.

History of the South African Minimum Wage

Frequently Asked Questions

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