South Africa
South Africa Minimum wage calculator
The minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay an employer is legally allowed to offer, and it changes by country, and often by age, almost every year. This tool checks your own pay against it. Enter what you earn an hour, the minimum wage that applies to you and your usual weekly hours, and it tells you whether you are above or below the floor, by how much an hour, and what that gap adds up to over a week and a full year. It is for workers who want to confirm they are paid lawfully, for anyone comparing a job offer against the legal minimum, and for people on the threshold who want to see what a rise to the minimum would be worth. Because rates differ so widely, from a frozen federal floor in the United States to far higher rates in Australia and much of Europe, the tool asks you to enter the rate that fits your situation rather than guessing it for you.
Enter the minimum wage for your age and country, since rates differ by both. The yearly figure assumes the same hours every week across 52 weeks. Being below the legal minimum is unlawful in most countries; if this shows a shortfall, raise it with your employer or your national pay authority.
How it works
- Find the minimum wage for your age and country; the table below lists several current rates with their dates.
- Enter your own hourly pay, then the minimum wage figure that applies to you.
- Add the hours you usually work in a week.
- The tool subtracts the minimum from your pay to get the hourly gap, then scales it to a week and to a 52-week year.
- A positive figure means you are above the floor; a negative one means your pay is below it and worth raising with your employer.
hourly gap = your pay - minimum wage; yearly gap = hourly gap x weekly hours x 52
The check is a subtraction: your hourly pay minus the minimum wage that applies to you. A positive result is the margin you sit above the floor, a negative one is the shortfall. To turn an hourly figure into something easier to judge, multiply it by your weekly hours for the weekly effect and by 52 more for the year. The yearly figure assumes you work the same hours every week, so treat it as a guide rather than an exact payslip total.
- your pay
- your gross hourly pay, before tax
- minimum wage
- the legal floor for your age and country
- weekly hours
- the hours you usually work in a week
Selected minimum wages, adult rate
| United States (federal) | $7.25 | an hour, unchanged since 2009; many states set more |
| United Kingdom (21 and over) | £12.71 | an hour, National Living Wage from April 2026 |
| Germany | €13.90 | an hour, statutory minimum from January 2026 |
| Ireland (20 and over) | €14.15 | an hour, from January 2026 |
| Australia | A$24.95 | an hour, national minimum from July 2025 |
Worked example
You are 23 in the UK earning 12.00 an hour over a 37.5-hour week, against the National Living Wage of 12.71 from April 2026: you are 0.71 an hour below the floor, which is about 27 short a week and a little under 1,400 short across a year. Moving up to 12.71 would close that gap. The same 12.00 an hour would clear the United States federal minimum of 7.25 with plenty to spare.
Key facts
- The United States federal minimum wage has stayed at 7.25 dollars an hour since July 2009, though most states and many cities set a higher one.
- The UK National Living Wage rises to 12.71 pounds an hour for workers aged 21 and over from April 2026, with lower rates for younger workers and apprentices.
- Germany lifted its statutory minimum wage to 13.90 euros an hour in January 2026, one of the larger single increases in its history.
- Australia has one of the highest minimum wages in the world at 24.95 Australian dollars an hour from July 2025, set each year by the Fair Work Commission.
Tips
- Always use the rate for your exact age band, since many countries pay under-21s or apprentices a lower legal minimum.
- Remember the minimum applies to your average pay, so unpaid time or deductions for uniforms and tools can pull you below it even when the headline rate looks fine.
- If the check shows a shortfall, gather your payslips and hours first, then raise it with your employer before going to a pay authority.
- Compare a job offer against the minimum and against the voluntary living wage, which is usually higher and reflects actual living costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage where I live?+
It varies by country and often by age. The table on this page lists several current adult rates with their start dates; for your exact figure, check your national government or pay authority, as rates usually change each year.
Does the minimum wage depend on my age?+
In many countries, yes. The UK, Ireland and others set lower legal minimums for younger workers and apprentices, so use the rate for your own age band when you run the check.
What should I do if I am paid below the minimum wage?+
Keep your payslips and a record of your hours, then raise it with your employer in writing. If it is not resolved, your national pay authority can investigate and you may be entitled to back pay.
Is the minimum wage before or after tax?+
Before tax. It is a gross hourly rate, so your take-home pay after income tax and any contributions will be lower than the headline figure.
What is the difference between the minimum wage and a living wage?+
The minimum wage is the legal floor an employer must pay. A living wage is a voluntary, usually higher rate calculated to cover the real cost of living; some employers choose to pay it but are not required to.
Things to watch
- Minimum wage rates change at least once a year, so confirm the current figure and its start date before relying on this check.
- The figures here are gross, before tax and any contributions, and apply to the rate you enter, not to a rate the tool assumes.
- Paying below the legal minimum is an offence in most countries; if you are underpaid you may be owed back pay, not just the correct rate going forward.
Sources
- National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates · GOV.UK
- Minimum Wage · U.S. Department of Labor
- Minimum wages · Fair Work Ombudsman
Last updated: 2026
This is an estimate for general guidance, not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Figures can change and individual circumstances vary. Always confirm with the official sources listed before making decisions.
Reviewed by Vikas Dulgunde.