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South Africa Hourly Wage Calculator (BCEA & Minimum Wage)

Calculates your hourly wage from a monthly, weekly, or daily salary, checks it against the National Minimum Wage, and ensures compliance with the BCEA's ordinary hours limit.

Your details

How often you are paid. This determines how your hourly rate is calculated.

Your gross salary for the selected period.

The number of hours you work in a normal week, as per your contract. The BCEA maximum is 45 hours.

Number of days you typically work in a week. Used for daily salary calculations.

For a partial month's salary, enter the number of calendar days you will actually work. Leave as 0 for a full month. A full month is typically 21-23 working days.

Result

Calculated Hourly Rate ZAR 76.92

Your hourly wage, calculated according to BCEA Section 35, or your input hourly rate.

How it is calculated

Equivalent Daily Rate Your daily wage, based on your weekly hours and work days.
ZAR 692.28
Equivalent Monthly Salary Your monthly salary, based on your weekly salary.
ZAR 15,000.00
Meets National Minimum Wage? Checks if your calculated hourly rate is at least the National Minimum Wage.
Yes
Shortfall vs Minimum Wage (per hour) The amount per hour your calculated wage is below the National Minimum Wage.
ZAR 0.00
Weekly Hours BCEA Compliant? Checks if your entered ordinary hours per week are within the BCEA limit of 45 hours.
Yes
Keep in mind
  • The National Minimum Wage used (R25.42) is an estimate for the 2025/26 period, based on a 7.5% increase from the last officially gazetted rate. The rate is adjusted annually on 1 March. Always verify the current rate on the Department of Employment and Labour's website.
  • The calculation follows the BCEA formula: Monthly salary × 12 ÷ 52 ÷ ordinary weekly hours = hourly rate.
  • Overtime pay, allowances, deductions, and sector-specific minimum wages (e.g., for farmworkers) are not included in this calculation.
  • If you are paid daily, the calculation assumes you work the same number of hours each work day.
  • The prorata salary calculation uses an average of 30.4375 calendar days per month. Actual proration may vary based on employer policy or specific collective agreements.

Indicative result, calculated from the details and the rules listed below. It does not replace an official calculation or advice from a professional.

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South Africa Hourly Wage Calculator

Understanding your true hourly wage is essential for every worker in South Africa. Whether you are paid monthly, weekly, or daily, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) provides a standard formula to convert your salary into an hourly rate. This allows you to verify that you are being paid at least the National Minimum Wage and that your working hours comply with legal limits.

How Your Hourly Wage is Calculated

The BCEA, in Section 35, defines how to calculate the hourly rate for employees not paid by the hour. The core principle is to first determine your weekly salary and then divide it by your ordinary hours of work per week.

  • If you are paid monthly: Your weekly salary is calculated as (Monthly Salary × 12) ÷ 52. Your hourly rate is this weekly salary divided by your ordinary weekly hours.
  • If you are paid weekly: Your hourly rate is simply your weekly salary divided by your ordinary weekly hours.
  • If you are paid daily: Your weekly salary is your daily rate multiplied by the number of days you work per week. The hourly rate is then calculated from this weekly salary.
  • If you are paid hourly: The calculator uses your input rate directly for verification against the minimum wage.

Key Legal Limits

Two critical legal figures are used in this calculation:

  1. National Minimum Wage: The minimum wage is adjusted annually. This calculator uses an estimated rate of R25.42 per hour for the 2025/26 period, pending the official gazette for 2026. Always confirm the current rate with the Department of Employment and Labour. Your calculated hourly rate must not fall below the official minimum.
  2. Maximum Ordinary Hours: The BCEA (Section 9) limits ordinary work hours to 45 per week. Any hours worked beyond this generally qualify for overtime pay, which is calculated separately and is not part of this basic hourly wage tool.

Example Calculation

Let's say Thabo earns a monthly salary of R15,000, works 45 hours per week, over 5 days. His hourly wage is calculated as follows:

  1. Weekly Salary: R15,000 × 12 ÷ 52 = R3,461.54
  2. Hourly Rate: R3,461.54 ÷ 45 hours = R76.92 per hour.

This rate is well above the estimated National Minimum Wage, and his weekly hours are at the BCEA maximum of 45, so his contract is compliant on these points.

Calculating a Partial Month's Salary

If you start or leave a job mid-month, your salary is prorated. A common and fair method is to calculate a daily rate based on the average number of calendar days in a month. For example, with a R15,000 monthly salary working only 10 calendar days in a month: (R15,000 ÷ 30.4375) × 10 = R4,928.14. Our calculator performs this calculation when you enter the number of calendar days worked.

Common Use Cases

This calculator is particularly useful for:

  • Casual and Temporary Workers: To understand the hourly value of a fixed-term contract or project-based pay.
  • Domestic Workers: To ensure the agreed monthly or weekly salary translates to a fair hourly rate that meets the national minimum.
  • Part-Time Employees: To calculate a prorata salary for a month where you don't work all days.
  • Job Seekers: To compare a monthly salary offer with hourly wage expectations.

Next Steps: Formalising Your Employment

Once you have calculated and verified your wage, it's crucial to have the terms documented in a proper contract. A written contract protects both the employer and the employee by clearly outlining pay, hours, duties, and conditions.

For casual work, consider a Casual Employment Contract. For domestic work, a Domestic Worker Employment Contract is specifically designed to cover the sector's unique rules. For fixed-term positions, a Temporary Employment Contract is appropriate. These documents help ensure that the salary and hours you calculated are legally agreed upon and enforceable.

Frequently asked questions

Is the domestic worker minimum wage different?

No, since 2022, domestic workers are entitled to the same National Minimum Wage rate as most other workers. Always check for the latest officially gazetted rate.

What if I work more than 45 hours a week?

Hours worked beyond 45 ordinary hours per week (or beyond 9 hours per day in a 5-day week) are generally considered overtime. Overtime pay must be at least 1.5 times your normal hourly rate. This calculator only deals with your ordinary hourly rate.

My contract says 'cost to company' or 'gross salary'. Which amount should I use?

Use your gross salary (before any deductions like tax, UIF, or pension). This is the amount your employer agrees to pay you for your work, and it is the basis for the BCEA calculation.

How is a partial month's salary calculated?

If you start or leave a job mid-month, your salary is often prorated. This calculator uses a standard method: (Monthly Salary ÷ 30.4375) × Number of Calendar Days Worked. Employer policies may vary, so this is an estimate.

The calculator says my rate is below minimum wage. What should I do?

First, double-check your inputs (salary amount, hours). If correct, you may be underpaid. You can raise the issue with your employer or contact the Department of Employment and Labour for advice on enforcing your rights.

Does this include paid leave or public holidays?

No. This calculator is for calculating your ordinary hourly rate based on time worked. The BCEA entitles you to paid leave and paid public holidays if you work on them, but these are separate entitlements that do not affect the core hourly wage calculation.

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