Hire remote staff in South Africa
South Africa ranks 13th of 123 countries on EF's English index, and a Johannesburg workday overlaps most of a UK one. Here's what South African remote staff cost, the hours they cover and how paying them works.
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What remote staff in South Africa charge
- Freelance VA rate on Upwork, South Africa
- $5–20/hr
What virtual assistants in South Africa list on Upwork. Upwork (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 2026
- US employee wage, median
- $23.23/hr
Secretaries and administrative assistants, $48,310 a year. US Bureau of Labor Statistics (opens in a new tab), May 2025 data
South Africa time zone and working hours
Johannesburg is on South Africa Standard Time (SAST), UTC+2, all year: it never changes its clocks, so only your side moves.
Your US Eastern 9-to-5, in Johannesburg
- Your standard time (EST)
- 4 pm to midnight
- Your summer time (EDT)
- 3 pm to 11 pm
- Shared hours
- 1 hour
- Shared hours, your summer
- 2 hours
Your US Pacific 9-to-5, in Johannesburg
- Your standard time (PST)
- 7 pm to 3 am
- Your summer time (PDT)
- 6 pm to 2 am
- Shared hours
- 0 hours
Your London 9-to-5, in Johannesburg
- Your standard time (GMT)
- 11 am to 7 pm
- Your summer time (BST)
- 10 am to 6 pm
- Shared hours
- 6 hours
- Shared hours, your summer
- 7 hours
Your Sydney 9-to-5, in Johannesburg
- Your standard time (AEST)
- 1 am to 9 am
- Your summer time (AEDT)
- midnight to 8 am
- Shared hours
- 0 hours
| Your 9-to-5 | In Johannesburg, your standard time | In Johannesburg, your summer time | Shared hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Eastern | 4 pm to midnightEST | 3 pm to 11 pmEDT | 1 hour2 hours in summer |
| US Pacific | 7 pm to 3 amPST | 6 pm to 2 amPDT | 0 hours |
| London | 11 am to 7 pmGMT | 10 am to 6 pmBST | 6 hours7 hours in summer |
| Sydney | 1 am to 9 amAEST | midnight to 8 amAEDT | 0 hours |
The other way round: a 9-to-5 in Johannesburg, in January
- US Eastern (EST)
- 2 am to 10 am
- US Pacific (PST)
- 11 pm to 7 am
- London (GMT)
- 7 am to 3 pm
- Sydney (AEDT)
- 6 pm to 2 am
Shared hours are the part of both 9-to-5s that overlaps. Every profile shows which business hours the person covers. IANA time zone database (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 2026
English in South Africa
EF's English Proficiency Index 2025 ranks South Africa 13th of 123 countries, with a score of 602, in its “very high” band. It's based on people who chose to take EF's test, so treat it as a rough guide.
EF English Proficiency Index (opens in a new tab), 2025 edition
On StaffPick you don't rely on a national average: everyone takes the same English test, and their CEFR band and score sit on their profile. What the CEFR bands mean at work.
Paying someone in South Africa
- Wise
Wise sends rand to South African bank accounts. The person fills in a short form, called a mandate, for South African reporting.
Wise (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 2026
- Hire Direct, $79 a month
- Request intros, then pay the person directly, in the way you both agree.
- Done For You, their pay plus $399 a month
- StaffPick pays them for you and replaces them free if it doesn't work out.
Holidays and the law
- Public holidays
South Africa has 12 public holidays. When one falls on a Sunday, the Monday after is a holiday.
South African Government, public holidays (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 2026
Agree up front which days they take off, and what happens if you need them on one.
- Contractor or employee
South Africa publishes a Code of Good Practice on who is an employee, which explains how courts tell employees from independent contractors.
Code of Good Practice: Who is an Employee (opens in a new tab), Government Notice 1774, 2006
Whether someone counts as an employee usually depends on how the work really happens (who sets the hours, who directs the work, how they're paid), not on what the contract calls them. If you hire a contractor, keep it a contractor relationship, or use an employer of record. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Roles you can hire
Each guide covers what the role does, cited rates and how we test the people you'll meet.
Tested South African staff on StaffPick
Live profiles. Each person passed the English, typing and role tests, and we reviewed the profile before it went live.
Questions about hiring in South Africa
Still unsure? Contact us. A person reads every message.
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