Recommended Au Pair Salaries
An au pair’s salary will depend on the number of hours required, the shift times, the au pair’s level of experience, the number of children, duties required, and the area in which the family lives.
The below table serves as a general guide for recommended monthly au pair salaries. These figures exclude petrol or travel reimbursement.
| Shift | Hours Per Week | Recommended Salary Per Month |
|---|---|---|
| Mornings Only | 10–15 hrs | R6,000 – R7,000 |
| Mornings Only | 15–20 hrs | R7,000 – R8,000 |
| Mornings Only | 20–30 hrs | R8,000 – R11,000 |
| Afternoons Only — Peak Hours | 10–15 hrs | R7,000 – R8,000 |
| Afternoons Only — Peak Hours | 15–20 hrs | R8,000 – R9,000 |
| Afternoons Only — Peak Hours | 20–30 hrs | R9,000 – R12,000 |
| Full Day | 30–50 hrs | R12,000 – R18,000 |
| Full Day | 50–60 hrs + | R18,000 – R20,000 |
Important to Note
Afternoon roles between 12:00 and 18:00 are considered peak-hour roles and are usually in the highest demand. Families looking for experienced candidates during these hours should consider offering toward the higher end of the recommended salary range.
If you require a morning school drop-off in addition to afternoon care, you should expect to add approximately R2,000 per month to the au pair’s salary.
For senior au pairs, highly experienced au pairs, executive au pairs, governesses or degree-qualified candidates, we recommend adding approximately R2,000 – R5,000 per month on top of the above salary ranges.
All salaries listed above exclude petrol, travel reimbursement, overtime, tutoring, weekend work, babysitting, or additional household duties unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Exceptional Au Pairs will recommend an appropriate salary based on your specific requirements, location, working hours and the level of candidate required.