Kasambahay salary in the Philippines
Start with the wage order for the region where the work happens. Then price the actual duties, schedule, experience, and live-in or stay-out arrangement. Do not treat an estimator band as a legal rule, and do not invent a floor below the NWPC sheet.
Estimate a monthly range
Choose a role and city to see a Helpers planning range. It is a starting point for a conversation, not a promise that a helper will accept the lower number or that every role follows the kasambahay rules.
Suggested monthly salary
₱9,100 – ₱14,300 / month
Indicative range for a live-out arrangement. Live-in roles, benefits, and experience can shift the figure.
Typical planning ranges by role (2026)
These are Helpers estimator figures for live-out monthly planning. The provincial column is a broad baseline; Metro Manila and Makati/BGC/Taguig apply a location multiplier. A legal wage floor still applies even when an estimate is lower.
| Role | Provincial planning range | Metro Manila | Makati, BGC, Taguig |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nanny / yaya | ₱7,000 to ₱11,000 | ₱8,400 to ₱13,200 | ₱9,100 to ₱14,300 |
| Cook | ₱7,000 to ₱12,000 | ₱8,400 to ₱14,400 | ₱9,100 to ₱15,600 |
| Cleaner | ₱6,000 to ₱10,000 | ₱7,800 to ₱12,000 | ₱7,800 to ₱13,000 |
| Housekeeper | ₱6,500 to ₱11,000 | ₱7,800 to ₱13,200 | ₱8,500 to ₱14,300 |
| All-around helper | ₱6,500 to ₱11,000 | ₱7,800 to ₱13,200 | ₱8,500 to ₱14,300 |
| Family driver | ₱12,000 to ₱20,000 | ₱14,400 to ₱24,000 | ₱15,600 to ₱26,000 |
| Caregiver | ₱9,000 to ₱16,000 | ₱10,800 to ₱19,200 | ₱11,700 to ₱20,800 |
What changes a helper’s rate?
Scope and responsibility
Childcare, elderly support, cooking, whole-house cleaning, laundry, errands, driving, pets, and overnight work are different responsibilities. List them before discussing a number.
Schedule and availability
Live-out commute time, split shifts, early school runs, weekends, holidays, and being on call all affect the value of the job. Live-in does not mean available around the clock.
Experience and evidence
Years alone are not enough. Relevant ages cared for, completed placements, references, first aid, TESDA training, cooking ability, language skills, or a driving licence make the value easier to assess.
Location and classification
The regional wage floor depends on where the work happens. A family driver or certified caregiver may fall under a different framework, so classify the role before copying a kasambahay number.
Budget beyond the cash wage
A family’s real monthly cost is more than the salary line. Under the Batas Kasambahay, a written contract should state duties, compensation, authorized deductions, hours, rest days, leaves, board, lodging, medical attention, deployment expenses, loans, and termination. Use the contract template before the first day of work.
- 13th-month pay: reserve one-twelfth of basic salary earned in the calendar year each month. Use the 13th-month calculator for a partial year or salary changes.
- SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG: coverage begins after at least one month for a kasambahay under RA 10361. The family remits the full amount and records any lawful worker share separately.
- Meals and lodging: live-in workers must receive adequate meals and humane, safe sleeping arrangements. Do not deduct those household obligations from the wage.
- Rest and leave: plan at least 24 consecutive hours of weekly rest, eight hours of aggregate daily rest, and five paid service-incentive-leave days after one year.
- Role-specific costs: transport, uniforms, supplies, overtime, holiday work, medical support, and additional duties need their own written terms.
A fair offer framework
- Find the applicable regional wage floor and write down its wage-order number and effective date.
- Describe the exact duties, days, hours, rest day, live-in or live-out arrangement, and any overnight or travel expectations.
- Use the estimator as a planning range, then adjust for experience, responsibility, commute, and the candidate’s references.
- Add employer contributions, 13th-month reserve, meals, lodging, transport, and paid leave to the household budget.
- Share the full offer early, invite the helper to negotiate the scope, and sign the written agreement before work starts.
Official sources and limitations
The legal figures below are linked to the issuing agencies. The planning ranges are Helpers’ own estimator output, based on role baselines, location multipliers, and a legal-floor clamp; they are not official wage rates or a survey of all Philippine helpers.
- NWPC current monthly minimum wage for domestic workers
- NWPC Wage Order NCR-DW-06
- Republic Act No. 10361 (Batas Kasambahay)
- Republic Act No. 11965 (Caregivers’ Welfare Act)
- SSS contribution table
Last reviewed 21 September 2026. Wage orders and agency schedules can change; verify the current position before signing an offer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the legal minimum salary for a kasambahay in the Philippines?
There is no single national monthly figure. Regional wage boards set the kasambahay floor, and some regions distinguish cities or first-class municipalities from other municipalities. The NWPC summary dated 9 July 2026 lists ₱7,800 per month for NCR, effective 7 February 2026.
Is the legal minimum the same as the going rate for an experienced helper?
No. A wage order is a legal floor, not a market quote. Experience, role complexity, location, schedule, live-in or live-out arrangement, references, and specialised skills can justify a higher offer. The ranges on this page are planning estimates, not guarantees.
Do meals and lodging reduce the cash salary?
No. For a live-in kasambahay, three adequate meals and humane, safe sleeping arrangements are basic employer obligations under RA 10361. They should be written into the agreement and should not be used to disguise a cash wage below the applicable minimum.
What should a family budget in addition to the monthly wage?
Budget the employer share of SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG, a monthly reserve for 13th-month pay, meals, lodging or transport as applicable, paid service incentive leave after one year, and any overtime or additional duties agreed in writing.
Does this guide cover family drivers and certified caregivers?
Not automatically. Family drivers can be excluded from the kasambahay wage order, and a caregiver who meets the definition in RA 11965 may be covered by the Caregivers’ Welfare Act. Confirm the classification before relying on a kasambahay minimum or contract.
Browse after you have the floor
Use the estimator as a conversation starter, then shortlist people whose ID and NBI status you can read. Helpers does not take a commission from the salary you agree.