What is the minimum wage for a au pair in Polokwane?

The national minimum wage for a domestic worker — including a au pair — is R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026. It applies everywhere in South Africa, including Polokwane. A au pair who reports for work must be paid for at least 4 hours, so the daily minimum is R 120,92.

How much should a au pair earn per month in Polokwane?

At the legal minimum of R30.23/hour and a typical shorter weekday shifts, typically afternoons pattern of 30 hours a week, a au pair earns about R 3 929,90 per month gross. This is a legal minimum, not a market average. Au pairs who drive, tutor or hold a relevant qualification often earn above the minimum, and a driving role usually carries a premium — but those are market rates layered on top of the legal floor.

What does a au pair usually do?

A au pair is a part-day childcare helper, often around the school day. Typical responsibilities include fetching children from school and afternoon supervision, homework supervision and lifts to activities, preparing snacks and light meals for the children. Despite the international-sounding title, a local au pair is a domestic worker under SA law and is owed the full national minimum wage for every hour worked — shorter shifts do not reduce the hourly rate.

How much UIF for a au pair?

UIF is 1% deducted from the worker plus 1% paid by the employer. On a gross of about R 3 929,90, that is roughly R 39,30 off the worker and R 39,30 from the employer each month, up to the R17 712 monthly ceiling.

Legal minimum 2026

Au pair salary in Polokwane (2026)

What you legally have to pay a au pair — a part-day childcare helper, often around the school day — in Polokwane this year: the national minimum wage, the 4-hour daily minimum, an estimated monthly gross for a typical shorter weekday shifts, typically afternoons pattern, and the UIF on top.

These are legal minimums, not market rates

The figures below are the minimum you may pay by law from 1 March 2026. They are not market averages — many households in Polokwane pay more depending on experience, hours, live-in arrangements and duties.

Minimum hourly

R30.23

National minimum wage, from 1 March 2026

Daily minimum (4-hour rule)

R 120,92

A worker who reports must be paid for at least 4 hours

Estimated monthly gross

R 3 929,90

Typical 30 hours/week at minimum wage

UIF (1% + 1%)

R 39,30 + R 39,30

Deducted from worker + paid by employer

What a au pair typically does

A au pair is a part-day childcare helper, often around the school day. The usual arrangement is shorter weekday shifts, typically afternoons. Day to day, the role tends to cover:

fetching children from school and afternoon supervision
homework supervision and lifts to activities
preparing snacks and light meals for the children
keeping the children's areas tidy

Despite the international-sounding title, a local au pair is a domestic worker under SA law and is owed the full national minimum wage for every hour worked — shorter shifts do not reduce the hourly rate.

How the au pair minimum is worked out

South Africa sets a single national minimum wage for domestic workers — R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026 — and it applies in Polokwane just like everywhere else. A typical au pair working 6 hours a day, 5 days a week does 30 hours a week, which comes to about R 3 929,90 a month gross at the minimum rate.

On top of the wage, both you and the worker pay 1% UIF on the gross (up to the R17 712 monthly ceiling). The worker's 1% comes off their pay; your 1% is paid by you and is not deducted.

What's a fair rate above the minimum?

The figures above are the legal floor. Au pairs who drive, tutor or hold a relevant qualification often earn above the minimum, and a driving role usually carries a premium — but those are market rates layered on top of the legal floor. Treat any above-minimum range as an estimate and a guide — the load-bearing legal fact is the R30.23/hour minimum, not the market range.

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Au pair pay in Polokwane — quick answers

What is the minimum wage for a au pair in Polokwane?: The national minimum wage for a domestic worker — including a au pair — is R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026. It applies everywhere in South Africa, including Polokwane. A au pair who reports for work must be paid for at least 4 hours, so the daily minimum is R 120,92.
How much should a au pair earn per month in Polokwane?: At the legal minimum of R30.23/hour and a typical shorter weekday shifts, typically afternoons pattern of 30 hours a week, a au pair earns about R 3 929,90 per month gross. This is a legal minimum, not a market average. Au pairs who drive, tutor or hold a relevant qualification often earn above the minimum, and a driving role usually carries a premium — but those are market rates layered on top of the legal floor.
What does a au pair usually do?: A au pair is a part-day childcare helper, often around the school day. Typical responsibilities include fetching children from school and afternoon supervision, homework supervision and lifts to activities, preparing snacks and light meals for the children. Despite the international-sounding title, a local au pair is a domestic worker under SA law and is owed the full national minimum wage for every hour worked — shorter shifts do not reduce the hourly rate.
How much UIF for a au pair?: UIF is 1% deducted from the worker plus 1% paid by the employer. On a gross of about R 3 929,90, that is roughly R 39,30 off the worker and R 39,30 from the employer each month, up to the R17 712 monthly ceiling.

Keep reading

Dignita is a compliance tool, not legal advice. Figures are based on current South African legislation; confirm with a labour-law professional for your situation.