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Pay & Employment

Minimum Wage Calculator

National minimum wage of R30,23 an hour from 1 March 2026 as daily, weekly and monthly pay for your hours.

Up to 45 under the BCEA.

Days per week

Result

Updates as you type

Minimum wage per month

R 5 894,85

Per hour
R 30,23
Per day
R 272,07
Per week
R 1 360,35
Per year
R 70 738,20
Gross minimum for ordinary hours from 1 March 2026; overtime, allowances and deductions excluded. Sectoral determinations and bargaining councils can set higher minimums.

How it's calculated

The National Minimum Wage Act sets a single hourly rate for every ordinary hour worked; the Minister adjusts it each March on the National Minimum Wage Commission's advice. Weekly pay is the rate times your ordinary hours (at most 45 a week), and monthly pay is the weekly figure times 52 divided by 12.

Weekly
= R 30,23 × ordinary hours per week
Monthly
= weekly × 52 / 12 Daily = weekly / days per week

Worked example

A full-time worker on 45 hours over five days:

  1. Weekly: R 30,23 × 45 = R 1 360,35; daily R 272,07
  2. Monthly: R 1 360,35 × 52 / 12 = R 5 894,85

Minimum wage by hours

Minimum pay by weekly hours

National minimum wage per week, month and year for common weekly hours, from 1 March 2026
Hours per weekPer weekPer monthPer year
Hours per week: 20Per weekR 604,60Per monthR 2 619,93Per yearR 31 439,20
Hours per week: 30Per weekR 906,90Per monthR 3 929,90Per yearR 47 158,80
Hours per week: 40Per weekR 1 209,20Per monthR 5 239,87Per yearR 62 878,40
Hours per week: 45Per weekR 1 360,35Per monthR 5 894,85Per yearR 70 738,20

Hourly rate by year

National minimum wage per ordinary hour, recent adjustments
FromPer hour
1 March 2026R 30,23
1 March 2025R 28,79

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage per month in South Africa?

R 5 894,85 for a 45-hour week (R 1 360,35 a week) and R 5 239,87 for a 40-hour week, from the R 30,23 hourly rate in force since 1 March 2026. The monthly figure is the weekly pay × 52 ÷ 12.

What is the national minimum wage for 2026?

R 30,23 for each ordinary hour worked, up from R 28,79, as gazetted on 3 February 2026 (Government Gazette No. 54075) under the National Minimum Wage Act and binding from 1 March 2026. The next review is expected for March 2027.

Does it apply to domestic and farm workers?

Yes. Domestic workers and farm workers are entitled to the full R 30,23; their earlier lower rates were aligned with the national minimum wage. Only workers on Expanded Public Works Programme projects have a separate rate of R 16,62 an hour, and learners are paid the allowances in Schedule 2.

Is the minimum wage before or after deductions?

Before. It is the minimum for ordinary hours, excluding transport, food or accommodation allowances, tips, bonuses and overtime. UIF (1%) and, above the tax threshold, PAYE are deducted from it.

What counts as ordinary hours?

Up to 45 hours a week (nine hours a day on a five-day week) under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. Hours beyond that are overtime at 1,5 times the wage, and the minimum wage applies to the ordinary hours actually worked, with a minimum of four hours' pay per day.

Sources

National minimum for ordinary hours; sectoral determinations, bargaining council wages and overtime are not covered. Results are for guidance only.

From 1 March 2026 · Updated:

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