Free tools · Bargaining Council for the Civil Engineering Industry (BCCEI)
Minimum wage for civil engineering workers in 2026
Employees in the civil engineering industry, by task grade, under its bargaining council agreement. The minimum is R57.03 an hour for the lowest-paid job (Task Grade 1), in force from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027. New rates apply from 1 September 2027.
Share on WhatsAppSave the image
Add the change dates to your calendar · the .ics file · every calendar feed
- R57.03The lowest rate, an hourfrom 1 Sep 2026
- R2,566.35A 45-hour week
- R11,120.85A month, aboutat 45 hours a week
- 9Jobs and grades
The rates in force
Appendix A: Civil Engineering Industry Task Grade Wage Rates
| Job | National |
|---|---|
| Task Grade 1 General: General Worker · General: Watchman | R57.03 an hour |
| Task Grade 2 Concrete: Reinforcing Steel Bending Machine Operator · Concrete: Structures Construction Hand · General: Civil Construction Bricklayer Gr 2 · Plant Operators & Drivers: Boomscraper Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Crusher Assistant · Plant Operators & Drivers: Hoist/Lift Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Pedestrian Roller Operator · Rail Construction: Perway Construction Hand · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Premix Paving Checker/Tallyman · Site Support: Artisan Aid · Site Support: Materials Tester Assistant · Site Support: Safety Watcher · Site Support: Survey Assistant | R58.36 an hour |
| Task Grade 3 Concrete: Concrete Hand Gr 2 · Concrete: Shutterhand Gr 3 · Piling: Bore Pile Operator · Piling: Frontman · Piling: Nozzleman · Plant Operators & Drivers: Winch Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Track Rig Operator · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Pipelayer Gr 2 · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Rakerman · Site Support: Banksman/Rigger Assistant · Site Support: Junior Site Clerk · Site Support: Welder Semi-Skilled · Tailings: Mudguard · Tailings: Reclamation Attendant | R60 an hour |
| Task Grade 4 Concrete: Concrete Hand Gr 1 · Concrete: Reinforcing Hand Gr 2 · Concrete: Scaffold Erector · Concrete: Shutterhand Gr 2 · Piling: Continuous Flight Auger Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Articulated Dumper Truck Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Bulldozer Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Concrete Dumper Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Concrete Mixer Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Concrete Pump Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Crusher Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Driver Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Excavator Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Forklift Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Front End Loader Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Grader Operator (General) · Plant Operators & Drivers: Hauler Driver (Bituminous) · Plant Operators & Drivers: Heavy Duty Driver/Extra Heavy Duty Driver (Rigid) · Plant Operators & Drivers: Light Motor Vehicle Driver · Plant Operators & Drivers: Mechanical Broom Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Milling Machine Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Motorcycle Driver · Plant Operators & Drivers: Paver Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Road Recycler Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Roller Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: TLB Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Tower Crane Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Tractor Driver · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Blasting Assistant · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Fence Erector · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Guard Rail Erector · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Sprayer Operator (Bituminous) · Site Support: Formwork Controller · Site Support: Materials Tester · Site Support: Storeman · Site Support: Tools and Small Plant Repairer · Site Support: Wedge Welder | R62.24 an hour |
| Task Grade 5 Concrete: Reinforcing Hand Gr 1 · Concrete: Scaffold Inspector · Concrete: Shutterhand Gr 1 · General: Civil Construction Bricklayer Gr 1 · Piling: Piling Auger Machine Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Batch Plant Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Heavy Duty Driver/Extra Heavy Duty Driver (Articulated) · Plant Operators & Drivers: Mobile Crane Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Scraper Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Screed Operator · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Kerblayer · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Pipelayer Gr 1 · Site Support: Assistant Surveyor · Site Support: Extrusion Welder | R70.48 an hour |
| Task Grade 6 Plant Operators & Drivers: Grader Operator (Final Levels) · Plant Operators & Drivers: Sprayer Driver (Bituminous) · Site Support: Senior Materials Tester (Field) · Site Support: Senior Materials Tester (Lab) · Site Support: Site Clerk · Supervisors: Team Leader Gr 2 | R80.04 an hour |
| Task Grade 7 Site Support: Plant Serviceman · Supervisors: Supervisor Gr 2 | R91.67 an hour |
| Task Grade 8 Supervisors: Supervisor Gr 1 | R102.78 an hour |
| Task Grade 9 Artisan: Diesel Mechanic, Fitter & Turner, Auto Electrician, Boilermaker, Spray Painter | R116.17 an hour |
The minimum hourly rate before deductions, as the gazette prints it. A week is worked out at 45 ordinary hours, the most the Basic Conditions of Employment Act allows, and a month at 52 weeks ÷ 12. The agreement is extended to employers who aren’t party to it, so these are the minimums for the whole sector.
The next increases
From 1 September 2027
Appendix A: Civil Engineering Industry Task Grade Wage Rates
| Job | National |
|---|---|
| Task Grade 1 General: General Worker · General: Watchman | R60.17 an hour |
| Task Grade 2 Concrete: Reinforcing Steel Bending Machine Operator · Concrete: Structures Construction Hand · General: Civil Construction Bricklayer Gr 2 · Plant Operators & Drivers: Boomscraper Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Crusher Assistant · Plant Operators & Drivers: Hoist/Lift Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Pedestrian Roller Operator · Rail Construction: Perway Construction Hand · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Premix Paving Checker/Tallyman · Site Support: Artisan Aid · Site Support: Materials Tester Assistant · Site Support: Safety Watcher · Site Support: Survey Assistant | R61.57 an hour |
| Task Grade 3 Concrete: Concrete Hand Gr 2 · Concrete: Shutterhand Gr 3 · Piling: Bore Pile Operator · Piling: Frontman · Piling: Nozzleman · Plant Operators & Drivers: Winch Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Track Rig Operator · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Pipelayer Gr 2 · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Rakerman · Site Support: Banksman/Rigger Assistant · Site Support: Junior Site Clerk · Site Support: Welder Semi-Skilled · Tailings: Mudguard · Tailings: Reclamation Attendant | R63.30 an hour |
| Task Grade 4 Concrete: Concrete Hand Gr 1 · Concrete: Reinforcing Hand Gr 2 · Concrete: Scaffold Erector · Concrete: Shutterhand Gr 2 · Piling: Continuous Flight Auger Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Articulated Dumper Truck Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Bulldozer Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Concrete Dumper Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Concrete Mixer Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Concrete Pump Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Crusher Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Driver Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Excavator Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Forklift Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Front End Loader Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Grader Operator (General) · Plant Operators & Drivers: Hauler Driver (Bituminous) · Plant Operators & Drivers: Heavy Duty Driver/Extra Heavy Duty Driver (Rigid) · Plant Operators & Drivers: Light Motor Vehicle Driver · Plant Operators & Drivers: Mechanical Broom Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Milling Machine Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Motorcycle Driver · Plant Operators & Drivers: Paver Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Road Recycler Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Roller Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: TLB Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Tower Crane Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Tractor Driver · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Blasting Assistant · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Fence Erector · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Guard Rail Erector · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Sprayer Operator (Bituminous) · Site Support: Formwork Controller · Site Support: Materials Tester · Site Support: Storeman · Site Support: Tools and Small Plant Repairer · Site Support: Wedge Welder | R65.67 an hour |
| Task Grade 5 Concrete: Reinforcing Hand Gr 1 · Concrete: Scaffold Inspector · Concrete: Shutterhand Gr 1 · General: Civil Construction Bricklayer Gr 1 · Piling: Piling Auger Machine Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Batch Plant Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Heavy Duty Driver/Extra Heavy Duty Driver (Articulated) · Plant Operators & Drivers: Mobile Crane Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Scraper Operator · Plant Operators & Drivers: Screed Operator · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Kerblayer · Roads, Earthworks & Drainage: Pipelayer Gr 1 · Site Support: Assistant Surveyor · Site Support: Extrusion Welder | R74.35 an hour |
| Task Grade 6 Plant Operators & Drivers: Grader Operator (Final Levels) · Plant Operators & Drivers: Sprayer Driver (Bituminous) · Site Support: Senior Materials Tester (Field) · Site Support: Senior Materials Tester (Lab) · Site Support: Site Clerk · Supervisors: Team Leader Gr 2 | R84.44 an hour |
| Task Grade 7 Site Support: Plant Serviceman · Supervisors: Supervisor Gr 2 | R96.71 an hour |
| Task Grade 8 Supervisors: Supervisor Gr 1 | R108.44 an hour |
| Task Grade 9 Artisan: Diesel Mechanic, Fitter & Turner, Auto Electrician, Boilermaker, Spray Painter | R122.56 an hour |
Source: Government Gazette No. 54030 (Regulation Gazette No. 11934), 2026-01-23: GN R. 7045 (every figure the notice set). Wage and Task Grade Collective Agreement, in force to 31 August 2028