How much should you pay a yaya in 2026?

The legal floor: DOLE minimum wages

Before we talk about typical rates, you need to know the minimum wage by region set under Batas Kasambahay (RA 10361). These are the absolute legal minimums: paying less is illegal.

NCR figure effective 7 February 2026 (Wage Order No. NCR-DW-06). Other regions set their own kasambahay minimums: confirm the current figure with DOLE / NWPC.

The reality on the ground: almost no one in Metro Manila pays only the legal minimum of ₱7,800. The market rate is significantly higher because families compete for experienced, trustworthy yayas.

Typical 2026 yaya salaries by city

Metro Manila (NCR)

Metro Manila has the highest salaries because cost of living is highest and demand is strongest.

Cebu City

Cebu rates are typically 20-30% lower than Metro Manila but climbing fast as the city's IT-BPO and tourism sectors grow.

Davao City

Davao rates are typically lower again than Cebu, with the city's lower overall cost of living.

What drives the rate up

Beyond city and years of experience, six factors raise a typical yaya's pay:

1. Multiple children: A yaya caring for two or three kids typically earns ₱2,000-₱4,000 more per month than one caring for a single child.
2. Infant care (under 12 months): Infant care is more demanding and the rate goes up ₱2,000-₱5,000.
3. CPR & First Aid certification: Adds about ₱1,000-₱2,000 to the typical rate. Worth requesting from your yaya regardless.
4. TESDA certifications (early childhood care): Adds ₱1,500-₱3,000.
5. English proficiency: Important for expat or OFW families. Premium of ₱1,500-₱3,000.
6. Driving licence: If your yaya can also drive (school pickup, errands), expect to add ₱2,000-₱4,000.

The non-salary costs (don't forget these)

The monthly wage isn't the only cost of hiring a yaya. Batas Kasambahay requires:

• SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG contributions. If your yaya earns under ₱5,000/month, you pay the full contribution. Above ₱5,000, you split it. The employer share is roughly ₱1,500-₱2,500/month for a typical Metro Manila wage (SSS alone is 10% of their salary credit in 2026).
• 13th-month pay: equivalent to one month's salary, paid in December. If your yaya earns ₱15,000/month, plan ₱15,000 in December.
• 5 days paid service incentive leave after 1 year of service.
• For live-in yayas: free lodging, meals, and access to clean drinking water. Budget about ₱3,000-₱5,000/month in food and incidentals.

So if you're paying a live-in yaya ₱15,000/month, your true monthly cost is closer to ₱20,000-₱22,000 once you include benefits and live-in costs.

How to negotiate fairly

1. Don't anchor on the legal minimum.

₱7,800 is the floor, not the going rate. Starting offers at the legal minimum signals you're not serious. Offer the market range for the experience level you're hiring.

2. Discuss the full package, not just the salary.

"₱14,000 plus 13th month, SSS, holidays, one day off per week, and live-in" is the right framing. Don't quote a number without the package.

3. Build in a clear review cycle.

Agree on a 6-month review with a defined raise (₱500-₱1,500) if both parties are happy. This gives your yaya something to work toward and signals long-term commitment.

4. Recognise extra effort.

Bonus on birthdays, Christmas (beyond the legal 13th month), or after a particularly hard week (e.g., a sick child) signals respect. Filipino families that retain great yayas for years almost always do this.

Magkano ang sahod ng yaya? (buod sa Tagalog)

Kung Tagalog ang gusto mong basahin, ito ang mahalagang bahagi:

• May legal na minimum. Sa NCR, ₱7,800/buwan simula Pebrero 2026 (Wage Order NCR-DW-06). Sa ibang rehiyon, ang regional wage board ang nagtatakda ng minimum. Bawat rehiyon ay may sariling wage order: tingnan sa DOLE o NWPC ang kasalukuyang rate sa lugar mo. Bawal mag-alok nang mas mababa dito.
• Iba ang minimum sa market rate. Ang ₱7,800 ay pinakamababa, hindi target. Sa Metro Manila, karaniwang ₱10,000-₱25,000/buwan ang live-in depende sa karanasan; sa Cebu ₱8,000-₱15,000; sa Davao ₱7,000-₱13,000.
• Hindi lang sahod ang bayad mo. Kailangan mo ring i-register ang kasambahay sa SSS, PhilHealth, at Pag-IBIG pagkatapos ng isang buwan ng serbisyo. Kung ang sahod ay mababa sa ₱5,000/buwan, ang employer ang nagbabayad ng buong contribution; kung ₱5,000 pataas, hinahati ito. Umaabot sa ₱1,500-₱2,500/buwan ang share ng employer sa Metro Manila.
• May 13th month pay. Hindi ito bonus: obligado ito, kahit man lang 1/12 ng kabuuang sahod sa loob ng taon, bayad on or before December 24.
• Live-in? May dagdag na obligasyon. Libre ang pagkain (kahit tatlong beses sa isang araw), matinong tulugan, at basic na pangangailangan. Hindi ito pwedeng ibawas sa sahod.

Kung nag-aalok ka ng sahod na malapit sa legal minimum, asahan mong maikli ang tenure. Sa karanasan ng maraming pamilya, mas mahal ang paulit-ulit na paghahanap ng bagong yaya kaysa sa tamang bayad mula sa simula.

Red flags in salary discussions

Some warning signs you're being undercut or overcharged:

• The rate is more than 30% below market. Likely an inexperienced or undocumented worker.
• The agency demands fees but won't itemise. Legitimate agencies provide clear breakdowns.
• Cash-only with no contract. Illegal under Batas Kasambahay. You're exposed to disputes and termination claims.
• No SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG. Your yaya is denied their legal benefits, and you're non-compliant.

Pinoyaya's approach

On Pinoyaya, yayas set their own rates inside the app: what you see on a profile is what they expect, and you can filter by budget when you browse. Use the market ranges above as your guide when you compare.

Yayas who complete identity verification carry the ID-Verified badge, so you can hire knowing the person matches their documents. Many also describe their training and certificates in their own profile description: treat that as a claim to check, and ask to see the certificate itself before agreeing a higher rate for it.

Common questions

How much is a yaya's salary in the Philippines in 2026?

In Metro Manila, a typical yaya earns ₱12,000 to ₱25,000 a month in 2026, depending on experience, live-in status and the number of children. Outside Metro Manila the typical range is roughly ₱7,000 to ₱18,000. These are typical market rates, not legal minimums.

What is the minimum wage for a yaya or kasambahay in Metro Manila?

₱7,800 a month in NCR (Metro Manila), effective 7 February 2026 under Wage Order No. NCR-DW-06. Other regions set their own kasambahay minimum through their regional wage board, so confirm the current figure with DOLE or NWPC.

Do I have to pay SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG for my yaya?

Yes. Batas Kasambahay (RA 10361) requires all three. If your yaya earns under ₱5,000 a month, you pay the full contribution; from ₱5,000 up, you split it. For a typical Metro Manila wage the employer share is roughly ₱1,500 to ₱2,500 a month.

Is 13th-month pay required for a yaya?

Yes. It is mandatory, not a bonus: at least 1/12 of the total basic salary earned in the year, paid on or before 24 December. A yaya earning ₱15,000 a month for the whole year gets ₱15,000.

What does a live-in yaya really cost per month?

More than the salary. A live-in yaya must get free lodging, meals and clean drinking water, and these cannot be deducted from the salary. Budget about ₱3,000 to ₱5,000 a month for food and incidentals, so a live-in yaya paid ₱15,000 a month costs closer to ₱20,000 to ₱22,000 once benefits and live-in costs are included.

Sources & further reading

• Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE): official minimum wage tables
• RA 10361 (Batas Kasambahay) full text
• Pinoyaya's plain-English guide to RA 10361
• SSS Philippines: household employer registration

This guide is for general information only. It is not legal or financial advice. Always consult DOLE or a Philippine labour lawyer for your specific situation.