South Africa employment cost calculator
The true monthly cost of an employee in South Africa: gross salary, UIF, SDL, COIDA, 13th cheque accrual, benefits and our flat fee. Free, instant, no email required.
| Gross salary | - |
| Benefits allowance | - |
| UIF (1%, capped R177.12/mo) | - |
| SDL (1%) | - |
| COIDA (0.5%, R51 458/mo cap) | - |
| Our fee (€350) | - |
Statutory rates and FX assumptions verified June 2026. Displayed conversions are indicative, the €350 / $399 / £299 fee is fixed and never derived from FX.
What's included in the calculation
- Gross salary, in ZAR, monthly.
- Benefits allowance, 0% (none), 5% (standard) or 9% (premium) of gross salary.
- UIF, 1% employer, capped at R177.12/mo (statutory ceiling, verified June 2026).
- SDL, 1% of gross for payrolls above R500 000/year.
- COIDA, 0.5% at the R51 458/mo earnings cap. Industry variations apply, the calculator uses the base rate.
- Our fee, €350 / $399 / £299 flat, per your billing currency.
Employer costs in South Africa explained
Every employer in South Africa touches four statutory systems: PAYE income tax withholding, UIF unemployment insurance, the SDL skills levy and COIDA injury compensation. These are the “employer-pays” elements, separate from the taxes withheld from the employee’s gross.
For a full breakdown by system, see the employer-costs guide.
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PDF: your employer-cost breakdown
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Bring your candidate or role, we quote your exact monthly cost
A 20-minute call: we walk through your role, verify statutory rates for your industry and confirm the exact monthly cost in EUR, USD or GBP. No obligation.
Book a callStatutory rates and caps are verified June 2026 against SARS and Department of Employment and Labour publications. FX conversions displayed are indicative, your invoice is in your chosen billing currency at the fixed fee. For a signed quote, book a call.
13th cheque is customary in South Africa but not statutory. The current calculator treats it as an optional annual bonus you can enter separately. A dedicated toggle is coming in v1.1.
PAYE tax brackets and the take-home view are on the roadmap for v1.1.