{"id":17366,"date":"2026-09-24T15:36:44","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T07:36:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/?p=17366"},"modified":"2026-09-24T15:39:25","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T07:39:25","slug":"helperchoice-annual-foreign-domestic-workers-salary-survey-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/helperchoice-annual-foreign-domestic-workers-salary-survey-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"HelperChoice Annual Foreign Domestic Workers Salary Survey \u2013 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/helperchoice-annual-foreign-domestic-workers-salary-survey-2026\/#Foreign_Domestic_Worker_Salary_Offers_Show_a_Rare_Pullback\" >Foreign Domestic Worker Salary Offers Show a Rare Pullback<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/helperchoice-annual-foreign-domestic-workers-salary-survey-2026\/#Regional_Salary_Trends_Shift_in_2026\" >Regional Salary Trends Shift in 2026<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/helperchoice-annual-foreign-domestic-workers-salary-survey-2026\/#Majority_of_Workers_Favor_Food_Allowance_Over_Base_Salary_Increases\" >Majority of Workers Favor Food Allowance Over Base Salary Increases<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/helperchoice-annual-foreign-domestic-workers-salary-survey-2026\/#Experience_and_Skills_Continue_to_Influence_Hiring\" >Experience and Skills Continue to Influence Hiring<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/helperchoice-annual-foreign-domestic-workers-salary-survey-2026\/#Press_Contact_Raymond_Sze_%E2%80%93_raymondhelperchoicecom\" >Press Contact: \nRaymond Sze \u2013 raymond@helperchoice.com\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/helperchoice-annual-foreign-domestic-workers-salary-survey-2026\/#About_HelperChoice\" >About HelperChoice<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17367\" src=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/EN-1.png\" alt=\"HelperChoice Annual Foreign Domestic Workers Salary Survey \u2013 2026 infographic\" width=\"800\" height=\"2400\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every year,<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HelperChoice<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Hong Kong\u2019s leading ethical recruitment platform connecting foreign domestic workers and employers, analyses job postings published on its platform to identify the latest salary trends, employment conditions, and hiring behaviours across the city.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2026 salary analysis currently covers 1,062 job ads posted between September 2025 and August 2026, offering insights into how salaries are evolving for foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The survey is conducted ahead of the Hong Kong Labour Department&#8217;s announcement regarding the new Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) and food allowance. As a reference, the MAW for 2026 is set at HK$5,100 with a food allowance of HK$1,236.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Foreign_Domestic_Worker_Salary_Offers_Show_a_Rare_Pullback\"><\/span><b>Foreign Domestic Worker Salary Offers Show a Rare Pullback<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to 2026 data, the average monthly salary offered to foreign domestic workers is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HK$5,559, down 2.8<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">% from HK$5,722 in 2025; this follows\u00a0 a 7.9% increase recorded the previous year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the decrease, the 2026 average remains approximately 9% above the prevailing HK$5,100 Minimum Allowable Wage, while the median stands at HK$5,100, reflecting that many offers remain close to the statutory minimum.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rather than signalling a sharp reversal in salary trends, the preliminary fi<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">gures may point toward salary levels stabilising following the stronger growth recorded in 2025. <\/span><a href=\"mailto:raymond@helperchoice.com\"><b><span data-rich-links=\"{&quot;per_n&quot;:&quot;Raymond Sze&quot;,&quot;per_e&quot;:&quot;raymond@helperchoice.com&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;person&quot;}\">Raymond Sze<\/span><\/b><\/a><b>, General Manager of HelperChoice, commented: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAfter years of steady wage growth for domestic workers, 2026 has seen a rare pullback in salary offers. This appears to be driven largely by the economic slowdown and the pressure it has placed on household budgets. But salary is only one part of what makes an employment arrangement sustainable. Feedback from our domestic worker community also highlights the importance of adequate food allowance, reasonable working hours, rest, and overall working conditions.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For domestic workers, experience, reliability, and relevant skills continue to play an important role in securing better opportunities. At the same time, employers are balancing competitive salaries with their household needs and budgets. Ultimately, the goal is to create fair arrangements and the right long-term match for both employers and domestic workers.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Regional_Salary_Trends_Shift_in_2026\"><\/span><b>Regional Salary Trends Shift in 2026<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2025, the New Territories recorded the highest average monthly salary at HK$5,886, followed by Hong Kong Island at HK$5,807 and Kowloon at HK$5,158.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2026, Hong Kong Island moved to the top at HK$5,722.93, followed by Kowloon at HK$5,212 and the New Territories at HK$5,135. Compared with 2025, salaries decreased by 1.4% on Hong Kong Island and 12.8% in the New Territories, while Kowloon recorded a 1.0% increase.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Majority_of_Workers_Favor_Food_Allowance_Over_Base_Salary_Increases\"><\/span><b>Majority of Workers Favor Food Allowance Over Base Salary Increases<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As part of its ongoing engagement with the domestic worker community, HelperChoice conducted a poll asking workers which they would prefer if given a choice: a mandatory food allowance or an increase in the minimum wage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among 449 responses, 61.7% (277 respondents) selected a mandatory food allowance, compared with 38.3% (172 respondents) who chose an increase in the minimum wage. The poll shows that food allowance matters greatly to many domestic workers, alongside receiving fair pay.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Experience_and_Skills_Continue_to_Influence_Hiring\"><\/span><b>Experience and Skills Continue to Influence Hiring<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beyond salary, employers value skills that match their household needs, such as childcare, elderly care, cooking, Hong Kong experience, and strong references. For domestic workers, relevant experience, good references, and an updated profile can help them find the right long-term match.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Press_Contact_Raymond_Sze_%E2%80%93_raymondhelperchoicecom\"><\/span><b>Press Contact:<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raymond Sze \u2013<\/span><a href=\"mailto:raymond@helperchoice.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> raymond@helperchoice.com\u00a0<\/span><\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"About_HelperChoice\"><\/span><b>About HelperChoice<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Founded in 2012, HelperChoice is a Hong Kong based platform dedicated to ethical recruitment and transparency in domestic employment. By connecting families directly with foreign domestic workers, HelperChoice removes placement fees and prevents exploitation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; Every year, HelperChoice, Hong Kong\u2019s leading ethical recruitment platform connecting foreign domestic workers and employers, analyses job postings published on its platform to identify the latest salary trends, employment conditions, and hiring behaviours across the city. 2026 salary analysis currently covers 1,062 job ads posted between September 2025 and August 2026, offering insights into [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":17367,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"description":"Discover the 2026 foreign domestic worker salary trends in Hong Kong from HelperChoice.","title":"HelperChoice Annual Foreign Domestic Workers Salary Survey \u2013 2026 - HelperChoice Blog"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[185],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-reports"],"blocksy_meta":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/EN-1.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17366"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17370,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17366\/revisions\/17370"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}