How much does an au pair cost in South Africa? Depending on an au pair’s experience level, you can expect to pay between R5000 to R10 000 per month for a part-time au pair working between 10 to 30 hours per week, and R9000 to R20 000 per month for a full-time au pair working between 35 to 50 hours per week. The working hours for an au pair can vary dependent on the needs of the family. For this reason, an au pair salary can be a set monthly wage or an hourly rate. Most au pairs will prefer to get a set monthly salary- this is determined according to their level of experience, their qualifications, and how many hours they work.
One of the many deciding factors for most families who’d like to employ an au pair, is whether or not they can afford to.
Determining what to pay an au pair can be complicated:
If you pay an au pair too little, you run the risk of employing someone who may not be qualified enough for the job, or, if you pay too high, you might not feel you getting enough value for the service.
Unfortunately, the complicated issue of how much to pay an au pair is driven by the fact that each family’s requirements are unique. Au pair salaries will vary according to the amount of experience or qualifications they have, but also the duties that are expected of them the number of hours your family needs them for.
The more hours you require an au pair in a week, the higher the salary will be. With a higher salary, you can be certain you will attract good quality candidates. We do recommend that if you want a high-quality candidate, that you consider offering a salary slightly above market value.
While many au pair agencies will work according to an hourly rate, we don’t believe this is the correct approach to use:
A South African au pair is different from the global definition of an au pair, which is often referred to as a foreign, traveling woman, happy to help out in a home in exchange for a room, food, and some pocket money. Instead, in South Africa, an au pair is someone who is studying either full-time or part-time, a teacher, or someone who specifically chosen a career as an au pair. For this reason, they seek a permanent and stable monthly salary as opposed to an ever-changing monthly income based on the number of hours they work. By paying an attractive and stable monthly salary, you can be sure to attract high-caliber professional au pairs who will be committed to your family on a long-term basis.
An au pair salary will depend on many factors:
- Their age
- How much childcare experience they have
- What relevant qualifications and courses they hold
- The number of hours they are required to work each week
- A valid drivers license (and in some cases, their own car)
- The area you live in
Full-time au pair salary:
An au pair with 1-3 years of childcare experience working full-time for your family (minimum of 35 hours per week) can earn around R9 000-R13 000 per month. Whereas, a highly experienced, qualified au pair, such as someone who has many years’ experience can earn around R15 000-R20 000 per month when working a minimum of 35 hours per week.
Part-time au pair salary:
A qualified au pair, such as a qualified Early Childhood Development teacher, looking for part-time work will usually expect a minimum of R8 000 per month.
On the other hand, a part-time au pair with less experience, working roughly 10-12 hours per week, can earn around R5000 per month and a more experienced part-time au pair could earn about R6000 per month for these working hours.
Au pair salaries are dependent on many factors and there is not a one-size-fits-all model. Here at Au Pair Extraordinaire, we are dedicated to helping South African families find the perfect au pair to suit your family’s needs as cost-effectively as possible. If you need help to find au pair, or need guidance on au pair rates, then please don’t hesitate to contact us.