Domestic Workers’ Salary in South African Rands

A person working as a house helper in South Africa and America earns around R9,080 and $5,905, respectively. Though it is an estimation, the original salaries differ according to your place of accommodation and the agency you belong to. Want to know about the domestic worker salary in SA and the USA? Give this guide a quick read.

Domestic Worker Salary in South Africa

There is a notable salary difference for domestic workers in South Africa and the USA, and it is largely dependent on the cost of living, gender, and expertise in the field. Here is a breakdown of the salary range, median salary, and fringe benefits for house helpers in both countries. So, keep on reading to know more.

Salary Range

Domestic worker’s salaries in South Africa start from R4 720 and go up to R13 900 on a monthly basis, which makes an hourly wage of R57. However, a house helper working in America earns anywhere between $17,763 and $26,645 on a yearly basis. That said, do consider that it is not a legally mandated salary and can vary based on your age, experience, gender, expertise, and city of living.

Median Salary

Median salary can be defined as the salary amount half of the workforce earns across the country. The median salary for a domestic worker in South Africa is around R8 260, whereas this number for American house helpers is around $22, 204. According to this data, the US has a high median salary, which is understandable, given the high hourly employees’ wages.

25th and 75th Salary Percentile

As per the data collected by the Department of Labor, 25% of the housekeeping staff across South Africa earns around R6 850, whereas 75% of this workforce earns around R9 370 per month. In comparison, the 25th and 75th percentile for the housekeeping staff salary is approximately $19,000 and $23,300 respectively.

Fringe Benefits

Though there are no fringe benefits provided to domestic workers in South Africa and America, it all comes down to where you are working. Some agencies have contractual restrictions for house owners to provide fringe benefits like transportation, medical waivers, and transportation. Hence, it is better to check it before applying for an agency.

Professional Responsibilities of a Domestic Worker

A domestic worker is a house helper who is responsible for doing house chores like cleaning, washing, cooking, ironing, and much more. In crux, they are required to take care of the house and family members. They may work full or part-time based on their availability.

Following are some professional duties you are required to do as a domestic worker.

• Taking care of the pets
• Providing driving services to the family
• Taking care of the elderly and sick family members
• Looking after the kids and children
• Ironing and washing clothes
• Cleaning the house
• Preparing and cooking daily meals

Factors that Influence Domestic Worker Salary in South Africa

There are multiple factors like your educational qualification, level of expertise, gender, city of living, and more that can play their part in deciding your salary as a domestic worker in South Africa. So, let us discuss all these factors individually below.

Qualification/ Education

Though you do not need a formal university or college education to get hired as a domestic housekeeper in South Africa, it is still preferred that you at least have a high school qualification or some sort of diploma. Displayed data will help you understand the salary variance of housekeepers with different levels of education.

• High-School Certificate

Most homeowners want their helpers to at least have a high school certificate. It is considered level 1 and the estimated salary of these employees is around R6 740 per month.

• Certificate/ Diploma

Though it is not a requirement, housekeepers with a professional diploma earn more than the level one employees. They have an estimated salary of R11 300, which is approximately 68% more than their counterparts.

Education Level	Salary Range
High-School Certificate	R6 740
Certification/ Diploma	R11 300

Level of Experience

Does your experience and age matter when deciding a salary for a house helper? Yes, definitely, your level of expertise can add to your monthly salary, which means the more you have worked, the better you will be paid. Here is a breakdown of the salary variance on the basis of experience.

• Less than 2 Years of Experience

House helpers with less than two years of experience earn around R5 360 per month.

• 2-5 Years of Experience

If you have two to five years of experience in housekeeping, the estimated salary would be R7 200, which is 34% more than those in the previous category.

• 5-10 Years of Experience

For housekeepers with five to ten years of experience, the average monthly salary is anywhere around R9 350, which is 30% more than the helpers in the previous category.

• 10-15 Years of Experience

Housekeeping professionals with ten to fifteen years of experience earn around R11 300 per month, which is 21% more than someone with five to ten years of experience years.

• 15-20 Years of Experience

As compared to professionals with fifteen years of experience, the housekeepers in this category earn 21% more, which makes it around R12 400 per month.

• More than 20 Years of Experience

Last but not least, if you have more than twenty years of experience in housekeeping, expect a monthly salary of anywhere between R13 000.

Level of Experience	Estimated Salary (Per Month)
Less than 2 Years	R5 360
2-5 Years	R7 200
5-10 Years	R9 350
10-15 Years	R11 300
15-20 Years	R12 400
More than 20 Years	R13 000

Public Vs. Private Sector

Do you see a difference in the salary between housekeepers working with public agencies and private agencies? Yes, house helpers are paid differently based on the agency they are working with, though the difference is not much. So, let us check the salary variance on the basis of this factor.

Public Sector	R32 400	7% more
Private Sector	R30 400

Gender

Unlike other jobs, housekeeping is one profession in which women are paid more than men counterparts. This is primarily because of the societal structure and power hierarchy. Here is the displayed data of the salary variance between male and female housekeepers.

Male	R8 790
Female	R9 460	8% more

City of Allocation

The city where you are living can also make a huge difference in how you are getting paid as a house helper in South Africa. It is natural that the cities with a higher living costs have higher hourly wages, and vice versa. So, let us discuss this salary difference in detail.

City Station	Average Salary (Per Month)
Bloemfontein	R7 830
Cape Town	R10 300
Durban	R9 460
Johannesburg	R8 700
Port Elizabeth	R8 790
Pretoria	R9040

If you are interested in working as a domestic help in South Africa, it is better to look into the deciding salary factors and make a strategic plan. It is always ideal to search for agencies that value their employees. I hope this guide has been helpful for you in deciding whether to get a job as a house help in South Africa.