Hourly Wage Calculator South Africa 2026
Convert your salary to an hourly wage and vice versa
Based on BCEA standard working hours (45 hours/week). Minimum wage applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in South Africa?
As of 2025, the National Minimum Wage is R27.58 per hour. This applies to most workers with some sector-specific variations.
How many hours is full-time?
The BCEA defines a standard work week as 45 hours (9 hours/day for 5-day week, or 8 hours/day for 6-day week).
Related Calculators
Annual Salary Calculator Monthly Salary Calculator Overtime Calculator South Africa 2026
How the hourly wage calculator works
The hourly rate is the monthly salary divided by the ordinary hours actually worked that month — not by a fixed 160 or 173,33. The number of working days changes the divisor, which is why overtime payments differ between months.
R25 000 a month over 21 working days of 9 hours is 189 hours, giving R132,28 an hour. In a month with 22 working days the same salary is R126,26 an hour.
Overtime at 1,5× that rate is R198,41 an hour, and ten hours of it is R1 984,13.
What changes the answer in South Africa
The BCEA sets ordinary hours at 45 a week and 9 a day for a five-day week (8 a day for a six-day week), and caps overtime at 10 hours a week. Above the earnings threshold, the hours and overtime provisions do not apply, which is why senior staff are often not paid overtime.
Common questions about the hourly wage calculator
Should I divide my salary by 160 or by the month's hours?
By the month's actual ordinary hours. 160 assumes 20 working days, which is wrong in most months and underpays overtime.
How is an hourly rate calculated for a casual worker?
Wage ÷ hours worked. Casual staff are usually paid per hour, with the same 1,5× overtime and 2× Sunday rules applying.
Does the hourly rate include benefits?
Not the basic rate. The cost of employment per hour includes employer contributions and leave, which is why a contractor's rate is higher than an employee's hourly pay.