Salary check – What domestics earn compared with other jobs

Handing out pamphlets‚ learning how to be a hairdresser or landing a job as an office receptionist - these all have a similar pay scale to domestic workers employed by middle-income South Africans living in urban metros.

The going rate of pay for a domestic helper is vastly different‚ depending largely on the income of the employer.

In Johannesburg or Cape Town’s middle class suburbia‚ a domestic worker can expect to earn R250 a day‚ with lunch provided‚ totalling an approximate R5‚000 a month. Domestic workers are also generally extended three weeks’ annual leave‚ in addition to public holidays‚ similar to those working in the formal sector.

The possibility of career advancement for domestic workers does exist in wealthier areas‚ with one recruitment website currently offering jobs for babysitters and au pairs at salaries of up to R7‚500 a month in Johannesburg.

Another website‚ Payscale.com‚ which estimates nanny and au pair salaries at between R25.34 - R98.63 an hour‚ notes: “A skill in Activities for Children is associated with high pay for this job”.

These pay rates are way above the minimum wage announced by government this week‚ which accommodates the far lower wages paid in non-metro areas. Statistics South Africa‚ in a labour market dynamics report earlier this year‚ calculated the highest median earnings for those working in private households as R1‚500 a month in 2015.

From December 1‚ 2016‚ by law‚ the lowest allowable wage will amount to an hourly rate of R14.54 for domestic workers (cleaners‚ nannies and gardeners) who are contracted for under 27 hours a week (R1‚701 a month) and R12.42 for those who work more hours in the week (R2‚422.54 a month).

By comparison‚ receptionist jobs offered on recruitment websites have a pay scale of between R14.01 and R58.71 an hour.

A private company in East London‚ Eastern Cape‚ is offering a monthly salary of R3‚500 for a clerical receptionist who will be required to do filing and photocopying as well as answering‚ screening and forwarding incoming phone calls.

A supermarket in Centurion is looking for promoters to hand out fliers to customers that are coming in and out of the store‚ for a wage of R2‚400 (R150 a day). The candidates will work four days a week from 9am to 4pm.

A “globally recognised hair salon” in Centurion is offering five apprenticeships at a monthly salary of R3‚800.

Job comparison websites show that in the financial sector‚ entry-level tellers and cashiers can expect about R4‚100 a month.

Among other entry level jobs‚ laundry workers’ average pay is calculated at R24‚231 per year‚ according to Payscale.com‚ while a shop assistant earns an average salary of R42‚375 per year.