HOW MUCH? Philippines minimum wage rates, ranked from highest to lowest

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced that minimum wage earners in Northern Mindanao and Caraga will receive higher pay beginning Friday, May 1, 2026, which coincides with Labor Day. 

The increase follows the implementation of the second tranche of wage adjustments.

In Northern Mindanao, the effectivity of the second tranche added P14, bringing the new daily minimum wage from P485 to P500.

The first tranche, which took effect on January 16, 2026, raised minimum wages by P25, or from P471 to P486. In Caraga, the daily minimum wage increased to P475, following the effectivity of the second tranche amounting to P20. On January 3, 2026, the first tranche, also amounting to P20, set the minimum wage at P455.

On Thursday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in the National Capital Region (NCR) may decide on pending wage hike petitions by July.

These include petitions seeking a P1,200 daily minimum wage, as well as those pushing for a P500 increase.

DOLE spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Lennard Serrano said RTWPBs determine and issue wage orders in their respective regions. They also begin reviewing their wage orders 60 days before the anniversary of their issuance.

Minimum wages vary

Article 122(b) of the Labor Code of the Philippines provides that the RTWPBs are tasked “to determine and fix minimum wage rates applicable in their regions, provinces, or industries therein, and to issue the corresponding wage orders” subject to the guidelines issued by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC). 

Regional boards follow a criteria for minimum wage fixing, said NWPC. These are: 

• Needs of workers and their families 
• Capacity to pay 
• Comparable wages and incomes 
• Requirements of economic and social development 

READ: EXPLAINER: How are wage hikes determined?

Here is a list of the daily minimum wage rates across the country, ranked from highest to lowest as of May 1, 2026:

NCR: P658–P695

Region III (Central Luzon): P515–P600 (in tranches)

Region IV-A (CALABARZON): P508–P600 (in tranches)

Region VI (Western Visayas): P520–P550

Region XI (Davao Region): P525–P540 (in tranches)

Region VII (Central Visayas): P500–P540

Cordillera Autonomous Region: P505

Region I (Ilocos Region): P480–P505

Region II (Cagayan Valley): P500Region X (Northern Mindanao): P485–P500 (in tranches)

Region V (Bicol Region): P480 (in tranches)

Region XIII (Caraga): P475 (in tranches)

Region VIII (Eastern Visayas): P440–P470 (in tranches)

Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula): P451–P464

Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN): P443–P460 (in tranches)

Region IV-B (MIMAROPA): P455

BARMM: P366–P411

Kasambahay

Meanwhile, the monthly minimum wage for domestic helpers or kasambahays per region are as follows:

NCR: P7,800

Region IV-B (MIMAROPA): P7,000

Region VII (Central Visayas): P7,000

Region IV-A (CALABARZON): P6,750

Region I (Ilocos Region): P6,700

CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region): P6,600

Region II (Cagayan Valley): P6,500

Region III (Central Luzon): P6,500

Region VI (Western Visayas): P6,500

Region X (Northern Mindanao): P6,500

Region XI (Davao Region): P6,500

Region XIII (Caraga): P6,500

Region V (Bicol Region): P6,000

Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN): P6,000

Region VIII (Eastern Visayas): P5,800–P6,400

BARMM: P5,500

Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula): P5,000–P5,500

—LDF, GMA News