Domestic Helper Salary Hong Kong 2027: HK$5,220 Wage & Full Costs

The minimum salary for a foreign domestic helper in Hong Kong is HK$5,220 a month for any contract signed on or after 3 October 2026, up 2.35% from HK$5,100. On top of the wage you must give free food or a food allowance of at least HK$1,236 a month, free accommodation, free medical treatment, compulsory employees' compensation insurance and return flights. Once you add those, a live-in helper realistically costs most families around HK$6,700 to HK$7,500 a month.

This guide covers the new minimum allowable wage, what you actually pay each month, the one-off costs at the start and end of a contract, and what helpers earn in practice. For leave and holiday rules, see our guide to domestic helper holidays in Hong Kong.

What Is the Domestic Helper Minimum Salary in Hong Kong for 2027?

The legal floor is called the Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW). The government reviews it every year, and the latest review was announced on 2 October 2026. According to the government's press release, the MAW rose from HK$5,100 to HK$5,220 a month, and the food allowance stayed at HK$1,236.

Source: HKSAR Government press release, 2 October 2026.

The MAW is not the same as the statutory minimum wage that covers other workers. Helpers live in, so the hourly minimum wage does not apply to them. The MAW is a condition of the helper's visa: the Immigration Department will not approve a contract below it.

If you're hiring a helper because you've just landed a job here, or you're a helper looking for your next role, you can browse English-speaking roles on ExpatJobBoard.com. We list thousands of jobs in Hong Kong that don't require Cantonese or Mandarin.

Which Contracts Does the HK$5,220 Wage Apply To?

The new rate applies to every Standard Employment Contract (form ID 407) signed on or after 3 October 2026. That includes new hires from abroad, helpers changing employer at the end of a contract, and renewals with the same employer.

There was a short transition. The government said contracts signed on or before 2 October 2026 at the old HK$5,100 rate would still be processed, as long as the visa application reached the Immigration Department on or before 30 October 2026. After that date, an old-rate contract will be rejected and you'll need to sign a new one at HK$5,220.

Existing contracts are not affected mid-term. If your helper signed a two-year contract at HK$5,100 in 2025, you keep paying that until it ends, then the renewal must be at least HK$5,220. Many employers round up anyway, and we'd suggest it: a helper on the bare minimum is the first to leave when a better offer turns up.

How Much Does a Domestic Helper Really Cost Each Month?

The wage is only part of it. Here is what a typical live-in arrangement costs when you spread the one-off items over a two-year contract.

Source: HKSAR Government press release (wage and food allowance), MSIG HelperSurance published premiums (insurance), Immigration Department fee table (visa).

If you pay the HK$1,236 allowance instead of buying her food, check it actually covers meals. Hong Kong supermarket prices have climbed, and helpers who are underfed tend to look for a new employer at the first chance.

What Else Must an Employer Provide by Law?

The Standard Employment Contract sets out obligations that cost money. According to the Labour Department's practical guide for employers, you must provide all of the following.

• Free accommodation with reasonable privacy: The helper must live in your home. Light, water, a bed, bedding, a wardrobe and bathroom access are all free. A cupboard space or a bed in the kitchen is not acceptable.
• Free medical treatment: This covers any illness or injury during the contract, whether or not it is work related, including hospital stays and emergency dental treatment.
• Employees' compensation insurance: Compulsory under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance. Failing to insure is an offence with a maximum fine of HK$100,000 and two years in prison.
• Return passage: A ticket home at the end or termination of the contract.
• Travel allowance: HK$100 a day for food and travel on the journey to Hong Kong and again on the journey home.
• Visa, medical check and document fees: You pay these, and reimburse the helper if she paid upfront.
• Wages on time: No later than seven days after the end of each wage period.

The government's employer guide also says your household must have an income of at least HK$15,000 a month per helper, or comparable assets. The Immigration Department gives bank savings of at least HK$350,000 over the last six months as one example of comparable assets.

How Much Is Domestic Helper Insurance?

Most families buy a packaged helper policy, which bundles the compulsory employees' compensation cover with medical, hospital and repatriation benefits. Prices are low compared with the risk.

As an example, MSIG's HelperSurance plan lists a premium of HK$750 for one year or HK$1,350 for two years, including the employees' compensation levy. That buys employees' compensation cover up to HK$100 million per event, clinic visits at up to HK$200 a visit, hospital and surgical cover up to HK$30,000 a year, and repatriation cover up to HK$20,000.

Two things to check before you buy. First, the medical limits. A HK$30,000 hospital limit can disappear quickly in a private hospital, and you're liable for her medical costs whatever the policy pays. Second, waiting periods. MSIG's plan, for example, has a 14-day waiting period, so buy the policy before she arrives.

What Are the One-Off Costs of Hiring a Helper?

The first month is the expensive one. Budget for these.

1. Agency fee: What agencies charge employers is not capped and varies widely, so get quotes from several. The fee the agency can take from the helper is capped at 10% of her first month's wage, according to the government's hiring guide.
2. Visa fee: HK$330, according to the Immigration Department's fee table.
3. Medical check and document fees: Paid by you, either upfront or reimbursed.
4. Inbound flight and travel allowance: A one-way ticket from her home country plus HK$100 a day for the journey.
5. Insurance: Taken out before she starts.
6. Bedding, toiletries and room set-up: Small, but she arrives with a suitcase.

Expect the first month to cost roughly double a normal month, more if you use a premium agency.

Do Helpers Get More Than the Minimum Salary?

Plenty do. The MAW is a floor, and experienced helpers with references, cooking skills, elderly care or childcare experience, or good English often ask for more, particularly when changing employer within Hong Kong.

Common extras are a Chinese New Year bonus, an end-of-contract bonus, a phone or data plan, a gym or Octopus top-up, and paid trips home beyond the contract minimum. None are required by law, but they shape whether a good helper stays for a second contract.

Helpers who care for elderly relatives or a family member with high support needs are often called caregivers in job adverts. The legal minimum is the same HK$5,220, but the work is harder and pay above the MAW is common. Agree specific duties in writing before she signs.

Is a Domestic Helper's Salary Taxed or Subject to MPF?

Helpers rarely pay salaries tax because their income is well below the basic allowance. For how the tax system works for higher earners, see our Hong Kong salaries tax guide.

Domestic helpers are exempt from MPF. According to the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, domestic employees who work in the employer's home, such as domestic servants and babysitters, are exempt persons. So you don't make MPF contributions for her, and she doesn't contribute either.

There is also no levy. You pay the wage, the allowance and the costs above, and nothing more goes to the government apart from the visa fee.

What Do You Owe a Helper When the Contract Ends?

The end of a contract triggers its own payments, and this is where disputes start. According to the Labour Department's guide, you owe:

• Wages up to the last day, plus pay for any untaken annual leave.
• One month's notice or one month's wages in lieu if either side ends the contract early.
• Return passage and the HK$100 daily travel allowance.
• Long service payment if she has worked for you for at least five years and the contract ends in one of the qualifying situations. The formula is two thirds of the last month's wage multiplied by the years of service.
• Severance payment if she has worked for at least 24 months and the contract ends because of redundancy. She can't receive both.

You must also notify the Immigration Department in writing within seven days of a contract ending early. Our guide to severance and long service payment explains the calculation in more detail.

Common Mistakes Employers Make With Helper Pay

• Signing a renewal at the old rate. Any contract signed from 3 October 2026 must be at least HK$5,220.
• Deducting money from wages. You cannot deduct for breakages, food or accommodation. The wage and allowance are paid in full.
• Paying late. Seven days after the wage period is the legal limit.
• Skipping receipts. Pay by bank transfer, or get a signed receipt for cash every month. If there's ever a claim at the Labour Tribunal, you'll need proof.
• Underestimating medical liability. Insurance limits don't cap what you owe. If her bill exceeds the policy limit, the rest is on you.
• Paying in lieu of holidays. It is an offence to pay a helper instead of giving her a statutory holiday.

How the Helper Cost Fits Into an Expat Budget

For a family on an expat salary, a helper is one of the larger fixed costs after rent and school fees. Roughly HK$7,000 a month is HK$84,000 a year. You'll also need a flat with space for her, which pushes some families into a bigger, pricier home.

If you're weighing a job offer, include the helper in the sums. Our guides on whether HK$50,000 is a good salary in Hong Kong and the cost of living in Hong Kong show where it fits.

How to Hire a Helper: Step by Step

1. Check you qualify: household income of at least HK$15,000 a month per helper, or comparable assets.
2. Find a helper: through an agency, a direct-hire platform, or a referral from a family whose contract is ending.
3. Sign the Standard Employment Contract (ID 407) at no less than HK$5,220 a month.
4. Submit the visa application: form ID 988A for the helper and ID 988B for you, through the Immigration Department's foreign domestic helper page.
5. Buy insurance that starts before she arrives.
6. Wait for approval: about four to six weeks for a helper coming from abroad, and normally within ten working days for a renewal with the same employer, according to the Immigration Department.
7. Arrange her flight and pay the travel allowance.

FAQs: Domestic Helper Salary in Hong Kong

What is the new salary for domestic helpers in Hong Kong?

HK$5,220 a month for contracts signed on or after 3 October 2026. It was HK$5,100 before that. The food allowance, if you don't provide food, is unchanged at HK$1,236 a month.

When does the HK$5,220 minimum wage start?

It applies to all contracts signed on or after 3 October 2026. Contracts signed on or before 2 October at HK$5,100 were only processed if the application reached the Immigration Department by 30 October 2026.

Do I have to raise my current helper's salary?

Not during an existing contract. The new minimum applies when you sign a new contract, including a renewal. When you renew, the salary must be at least HK$5,220.

How much does a domestic helper cost per month in total?

Around HK$6,700 to HK$7,500 for most families once you add food, insurance, visa costs and flights spread over two years. Agency fees and any bonuses push it higher.

Is the food allowance on top of the salary?

Yes. You either provide free food or pay at least HK$1,236 a month in addition to the HK$5,220 wage. You can't include food in the salary figure.

Do domestic helpers pay MPF?

No. Domestic employees working in the employer's home are exempt from MPF, according to the MPF Schemes Authority. Neither you nor your helper contributes.

Is domestic helper insurance compulsory in Hong Kong?

Employees' compensation insurance is compulsory, with a maximum penalty of HK$100,000 and two years in prison for not having it. Most employers buy a helper package that also covers medical and hospital costs, from about HK$750 a year.

How much is the agency fee for a domestic helper?

The agency can charge the helper no more than 10% of her first month's wage. There's no cap on what it charges you, so compare agencies and ask exactly what the fee covers, including replacements if things don't work out.

Can I pay my helper less if she lives out?

No. Live-out arrangements aren't allowed: the contract requires the helper to live in your home, and the minimum salary is the same.

Do helpers get a bonus in Hong Kong?

There is no legal bonus. Many families pay a Chinese New Year bonus or a contract completion bonus anyway, because it helps keep a good helper.

How much does it cost to employ a caregiver helper for elderly parents?

The legal minimum is the same HK$5,220 a month plus food. Because elderly care is more demanding, many employers pay more and agree specific duties in writing.

Key Takeaways

• The Minimum Allowable Wage for helpers is HK$5,220 a month for contracts signed on or after 3 October 2026, up from HK$5,100.
• The food allowance stays at HK$1,236 a month if you don't provide free food.
• A realistic all-in cost is about HK$6,700 to HK$7,500 a month once insurance, visa fees and flights are spread over the contract.
• Employees' compensation insurance is compulsory; packaged helper insurance starts from about HK$750 a year.
• The visa fee is HK$330 and the helper's agency fee is capped at 10% of her first month's wage.
• Helpers are exempt from MPF, and you need a household income of at least HK$15,000 a month per helper.
• At the end of a contract you owe return passage, HK$100 a day travel allowance and, after five years, a long service payment.

Find a Job in Hong Kong That Fits Your Life

Hiring a helper usually comes with a move or a new role. Browse thousands of English-speaking jobs on ExpatJobBoard.com, none of which require Cantonese or Mandarin.