Domestic helpers’ average wage rises 7.9% to HK$5,722 in 2025: Hong Kong survey

The average monthly salary offered to domestic helpers in Hong Kong has increased by 7.9 per cent to HK$5,722 (US$735) compared with the previous year, according to a survey by a local recruitment platform.

HelperChoice, which released the survey findings on Monday, said that the upwards trend in wages reflected a growing willingness among employers to offer competitive salaries to hire experienced helpers, particularly those already based in Hong Kong.

“In 2025, we’re seeing a noticeable shift in what families value most. Employers are no longer just hiring based on cost; they’re willing to offer higher salaries for helpers with prior Hong Kong experience, childcare or elderly care expertise,” Raymond Sze, the company’s general manager, said.

The survey results were released on the same day as the government’s announcement of an increase in the monthly minimum salary of domestic helpers in Hong Kong, which will rise by 2.2 per cent to HK$5,100 for employment contracts signed on or after Tuesday.

Based on 1,549 job advertisements posted in the year from August 2024, the survey found that the average monthly salaries offered to helpers in the city had risen 7.9 per cent to HK$5,722 compared with the previous year.

The firm noted that employers were becoming more willing to pay higher wages to attract experienced helpers, particularly those already based in Hong Kong, as their paperwork could be handled more quickly and their contracts extended without requiring them to return to their home countries.