Stats SA’s latest quarterly employment survey (QES) shows that the average salary in South Africa—for the formal, non-agricultural sector—has dropped slightly since last quarter and is now sitting at R26,791 a month.
The average at the end of March 2024 was 4.6% higher year on year, up from the R25,602 recorded in Q1 2023. However, this growth is lower than inflation—averaging around 5%—so the average declined in real terms.
While the average salary has shrunk overall, numbers are up significantly in some sectors, with at least 44 jobs covered by the survey showing average earnings higher than the national figure.
Stats SA’s Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) data covers eight key industries or sectors in South Africa, which is split further into 20 sub-categories, mainly made up of various manufacturing sectors, as well as a split between government and non-government community and social services.
The dataset covers earning estimates across over 90 job types in the formal, non-agricultural sector, indicating which job types or sectors draw the highest monthly earnings.
Notably, of the 92 jobs covered by the survey, 44 job types pay higher than the national average of R26,791 per month – with the highest average being R90,659 per month for those working around financial intermediation in the business services sector.
Other high-paying jobs include those in electricity, gas, steam, and water supply, insurance and pension funds, computer (IT), and related activities.
The table below outlines all 44 jobs with an average salary higher than the national average of R26,791.
The table below outlines average salaries across the 20 different job sectors in South Africa, based on the most recent earnings data as reported by Stats SA.
The full list of all 92 jobs covered in the survey is embedded below or can be downloaded here. The industry segments are described as follows:
- Mining includes mining and quarrying
- Manufacturing includes food and beverages, furniture, textiles, wood, printing and publishing, petroleum and chemicals, non-metals and mineral products, electrical, medical and technology-related apparatus, and transport equipment
- Electricity includes gas and water supply
- Trade includes wholesale, retail, motor, hotel and restaurants
- Transport includes freight, storage and postal communication
- Business services include financial intermediation, banking, insurance and real estate
- Community includes social and personal services, split among government and non-government entities.
Read: Bad news for salaries in South Africa
