How much is the Domestic Helper Salary 2025 in Hong Kong?

Hiring a foreign domestic helper in Hong Kong is a long-term commitment. Both employers and helpers need to clearly understand the salary, benefits, and legal obligations involved. Each year, the Hong Kong Government reviews the Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW), which sets the baseline salary for foreign domestic helpers. In addition, average salaries vary widely depending on location, role, and experience.

This 2025 guide explains how much you should expect to pay (or receive), what allowances are required, and why offering a competitive salary helps ensure a positive employment relationship.

Hong Kong Minimum Domestic Helper Wage in 2025

Effective 30 September 2025, the government has set a minimum domestic helper salary of HK$5,100 per month, which the employer must pay to foreign domestic helpers. The new rates apply to contracts signed on or after this specific date. 

The Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) is a statutory requirement for all Foreign Domestic Helpers (FDHs), regardless of nationality. Employers cannot negotiate a salary below this level.

The consequences of illegal FDH wage Hong Kong 2025 include:

• The Immigration Department refused entry to the helper if the wage was lower than the MAW filled in the Standard Employment Contract (ID407).
• An employer who underpays would be sentenced to a maximum fine of HK$350,000 and three years imprisonment.

You should pay extra attention to the MAW, that even with an agreement with the helper, underpaying is still counted as illegal.

The Standard Employment Contract includes a monthly wage plus a food allowance of HK$1,236 per month which the employer must pay separately. If the food allowance is not offered, the employer must provide Free food to the helper. This means that the helper will cook his or her food with the ingredients supplied by the employer.

Employer Obligations Beyond Salary

Hiring a helper involves more than just paying the monthly wage. Employers are also responsible for:

• Free accommodation in the employer's house is a part of the package (live-in requirement by law)

• Any cost related to visa and passport processing

• The helper is also supposed to get a free ticket to return to her home country after the contract expires or gets terminated.

• The employer has to cover the medical expenses of the helper and take out an insurance policy for the helper.

These laws show that the employer must not only pay the domestic helper's salary but also consider other expenses before hiring a helper.

When should you pay the salary ?

According to Labour Department, the employer should pay the helper within 7 days after the end of the wage period (i.e. every month counting from contract starts), by cheque, bank transfer or cash. You can download the Sample Wage Receipt of FDH at the “Practical Guide of Foreign Domestic Helper”

Average Domestic Helper Salaries in Hong Kong (2025)

While the MAW sets the minimum, the average maid salary in Hong Kong is often higher, depending on district and employer expectations. In 2025, the average salary reached HK$5,410 per month.

There are some areas with more local families in Hong Kong, like Fanling, Tsuen Wan, Tseung Kwan O, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long where the helper salary is just a few HK dollars above the Hong Kong minimum wage, the average helper salary in these areas is close to HK$5,000. A lot of employers there have a preference to hire candidates coming from overseas; these candidates accept most of the time the minimum salary in order to work in Hong Kong.

Areas with higher-income families or more expat families, like Stanley, Victoria Peak, Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay, and Clearwater Bay, pay the best salaries in Hong Kong. The range of helper salaries in these areas is from HK$5,000 to HK$8,000. Some helpers (with driving license or specific skills) can earn even higher salaries of up to HK$15,000 from employers living in Happy Valley, Pok Fu Lam, Sai Kung, Kowloon Tong, and Central.

For families hiring elderly care support, the typical caregiver salary in Hong Kong ranges from HK$6,000 to HK$9,000, especially if the helper speaks Cantonese or has nursing training.

How to decide the Right Salary of your Helper?

Salary offers should reflect:

• Experience: Helpers with 10+ years’ experience usually command higher pay.

• Skills: Driving, first aid, nursing, or elderly care qualifications increase value. Specialized roles such as drivers or elderly caregivers may require a higher wage. The caregiver salary Hong Kong market shows steady growth due to rising demand.

• Availability: Finished contract helpers already in Hong Kong are in high demand. Offering above MAW improves your chance of hiring quickly.

👉 Tip: Employers competing for the same candidate often succeed by offering a slightly higher wage than the legal minimum.

You should consider all these factors when making an offer. Remember to increase the wage voluntarily if the helper is qualified for the job. 

Why Salary Matters to Domestic Helpers?

For domestic helpers in Hong Kong, salary is more than just a paycheck, it directly affects their families’ well-being and their own quality of life while working abroad.

• Remittances: A significant part of their earnings is sent home every month to cover essentials like children’s education, medical care, and household expenses. Even a small increase in salary can make a meaningful difference to their families.

• Living costs: While accommodation is provided, helpers still pay for daily needs such as transport, food (if allowance is given), mobile phones, and personal expenses. These costs reduce the amount they can save.

• Inflation: Rising prices in Hong Kong and in their home countries mean that the real value of wages often falls, making higher pay important for financial stability.

A fair salary is not only financial support, it is also recognition of the helper’s hard work and sacrifice. Employers who pay competitively are more likely to build trust, encourage loyalty, and enjoy a smoother, more positive working relationship.

Why Offering a Good Salary Benefits Employers

It is sometimes difficult for families living in Hong Kong to find domestic helpers available to start within 3 months. Due to high demand, helpers are in short supply; competitive salaries can definitively attract more skilled and experienced domestic helpers. Employers offering unattractive wages may struggle significantly to hire a domestic helper with a finished contract in Hong Kong (hiring from overseas will be the best solution).

The employer can enjoy various benefits by providing a good salary to the helper. The biggest advantage is that a good salary helps retain a domestic helper for a long time. The family employing the worker can benefit from the service provided. If the salary is lucrative and in accordance with the helper's skills and qualifications, she will be motivated to perform better and work harder.

The helper and the employer can establish a harmonious relationship based on mutual benefit. It is always better to have satisfied helpers rather than complaining ones. The level of trust between the helper and the employee also increases so that both can depend on each other. All these advantages are available to employers who pay good wages to the helpers.

Treating the helper with respect and acknowledging her effort can go a long way in creating a good working environment for the helper and increasing helper productivity. Therefore, an important issue like domestic helper salary should be carefully considered before employing a helper.

Conclusion

Understanding the official minimum wage, average salary expectations, and legal obligations is essential for a smooth working relationship. Employers who offer fair pay and good conditions are more likely to retain reliable and happy helpers, while workers benefit from better opportunities and security.

If you are ready to hire, start by exploring available candidates on HelperPlace, a trusted platform to connect employers and domestic helpers in Hong Kong without agency fees.