Domestic Worker Minimum Wage Table in Portugal (2026)

In 2026, the minimum wage for a domestic worker in Portugal varies depending on the region and agreed schedule. This guide brings together the official regional minimum wage tables, proportional part-time scales, supplementary benefits, and net salary calculations after Social Security (Segurança Social) deductions.

To learn about broader employment rights (such as annual leave, insurance, and notice periods), see our domestic worker rights guide. To calculate total employer costs, see our cost guides for full-time housekeepers and part-time cleaners.

What is the domestic worker minimum wage in Portugal in 2026?

Portuguese law sets a monthly minimum wage for full-time employment (40 hours per week). The hourly benchmark rate is calculated by dividing 12 monthly salaries by the 2,080 working hours in a standard working year.

Region	Monthly Minimum Wage	Hourly Equivalent (40h/week)
Mainland Portugal	€920.00	€5.31
Azores	€966.00	€5.57
Madeira	€980.00	€5.65

The mainland rate was established by Decree-Law No. 139/2025. In the Azores, a 5% regional top-up applies automatically over the national rate. In Madeira, Regional Legislative Decree No. 1/2026/M established the highest minimum rate among Portugal’s three regions.

What is the minimum wage for part-time domestic work?

Under a part-time contract, the monthly minimum wage is strictly proportional to the number of contracted weekly hours, using the same benchmark hourly rate.

Weekly Hours	Monthly Minimum Wage
40 hours	€920.00
30 hours	€690.00
25 hours	€575.00
20 hours	€460.00
15 hours	€345.00
10 hours	€230.00

In the Azores and Madeira, the same proportions apply to the respective regional minimums. If a worker holds contracts with multiple households, each employer pays the proportional minimum corresponding to their specific hours.

What are typical market rates for hourly cleaning and housekeeping?

In practice, market rates in Portugal exceed statutory minimums. For domestic cleaning, hourly rates typically range between €8.00 and €20.00 per hour, with a national market average close to €12.00 per hour.

Recurring weekly or monthly services sit toward the lower end of this range, while one-off deep cleans or specialized care services command higher rates.

For employers, agreeing a base rate of €9.00/hour results in a true employer cost close to €11.25 per hour worked once holiday allowances, Social Security, and insurance are included.

What supplements the base contract salary?

• Holiday and Christmas allowances: Each allowance equals one full month’s pay, making 14 payments per year. Allowances may be paid as lump sums when due or distributed monthly in twelfths (duodécimos) if agreed in writing.
• Meal allowance (subsídio de alimentação): Not mandatory by law in domestic employment. However, if specified in the contract or habitually paid, it becomes a legally binding part of remuneration.
• Workplace accident insurance: Compulsory by law and fully paid by the employer. It covers injuries at the workplace and during transit to and from work.
• Personal income tax (IRS) deduction for employers: Employers residing in Portugal can deduct 5% of declared domestic employment expenses from their personal income tax (IRS), up to a maximum limit of €200.00 per year (Article 78-H of the IRS Code).

What is the worker’s net take-home salary after deductions?

The actual net amount received by the worker depends on the applicable Social Security regime:

• Conventional Regime (regime convencional): The worker’s 9.4% contribution is charged on the fixed IAS base (€537.13 per month in 2026) rather than on actual gross pay, resulting in a fixed deduction of €50.49 per month (9.4% of €537.13).
• Real Regime (regime real): The worker’s contribution is 11% on actual gross salary (for example, €101.20 deducted from a €920.00 salary).

Net salary comparison for minimum wage (€920.00/month):

On €920.00 Gross Salary	Worker Social Security Deduction	Worker Net Salary
Conventional Regime	€50.49	€869.51
Real Regime	€101.20	€818.80

Under the Conventional Regime, the worker receives €50.71 more in net pay per month. In return, official Social Security career records reflect the IAS base (€537.13), which serves as the reference value for future pensions and sickness benefits.

Net salary comparison for €780.00/month salary (20h/week at €9.00/hour):

On €780.00 Gross Salary	Worker Social Security Deduction	Worker Net Salary
Conventional Regime	€25.25	€754.75
Real Regime	€85.80	€694.20

Under the Conventional Regime for a 20h/week schedule, the contribution base is half of the IAS (€268.57), resulting in a fixed €25.25 deduction whether the actual salary is €460.00 or €780.00.

Let the calculator do the maths

Enter your salary and working hours in the Domicilia calculator to see the exact net take-home pay under both Social Security regimes.

Open the net salary calculator

How to verify Social Security declarations

Workers can and should verify that monthly contributions are being correctly reported by checking their official contribution history on Segurança Social Direta.

In this section, workers can confirm that all months worked have been reported, that declared values match the agreed regime (€537.13 for Conventional or €920.00 for Real), and that no missing months exist.

Sources and legal notice

• Decree-Law No. 139/2025 — Guaranteed minimum monthly wage for 2026 in mainland Portugal.
• Regional Legislative Decree No. 1/2026/M — Guaranteed minimum monthly wage in Madeira for 2026.
• Regional Legislative Decree No. 37/2023/A — 5% regional top-up in the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
• Order No. 480-A/2025/1 — Update of the Social Support Index (IAS) to €537.13 for 2026.
• Law No. 110/2009 — Code of Social Security Contributory Regimes.
• Law No. 82/2023 — Article 78-H of the IRS Code (domestic employment tax deduction).
• Social Security Practical Guide for Domestic Service — Contributory framework.
• Working Conditions Authority (ACT) — Official information and contacts.