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Minimum Wage in South Africa

The national minimum wage is R30.23 for each ordinary hour worked from 1 March 2026, up from R28.79.

An hour R30.23
A week R1,360.35
A month R5,894.85 ≈ $355
A year R70,738.20

National Minimum Wage, since 1 March 2026. The legal rate is set an hour (highlighted); the others assume 45 hours a week. All amounts are before tax.

Minimum wage calculator for South Africa

Change the hours to see what the minimum pays for part-time work or overtime, or enter your own hourly pay.

A week
R1,360.35
A month
R5,894.85
A year
R70,738.20

Months are 52 weeks ÷ 12. Paid holidays, overtime premiums and extra monthly payments are not included.

Who is covered

National minimum

Farm workers and domestic workers get the same rate. Workers on the Expanded Public Works Programme get R16.62 an hour, and learnership allowances have their own scale.

Next change

The National Minimum Wage Commission reviews the rate every year, with new rates usually from 1 March.

Checked 23 October 2026 against labour ministries, official gazettes and recent reporting. Your own minimum can depend on your age, sector, region or contract, so check with the labour authority or your union. This is a summary, not legal advice. Sources: EWN: Minimum wage rises to R30.23 an hour from 1 March.

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Working days in South Africa

Business days and hours by month this year.

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Minimum wage in South Africa: questions and answers

What is the minimum wage in South Africa?

The national minimum wage is R30.23 for each ordinary hour worked from 1 March 2026, up from R28.79.

What is the minimum wage per month in South Africa?

Working full-time at 45 hours a week, the minimum comes to about R5,894.85 a month or R70,738.20 a year before tax.

Who is covered by the minimum wage in South Africa?

Farm workers and domestic workers get the same rate. Workers on the Expanded Public Works Programme get R16.62 an hour, and learnership allowances have their own scale.

When does the minimum wage go up in South Africa?

The National Minimum Wage Commission reviews the rate every year, with new rates usually from 1 March.

Minimum wages in other countries