The most recent earnings data from the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) indicates that extra-budgetary institutions (EBIs) in South Africa offer the highest average salaries within the government sector.
EBIs are government bodies that function outside the usual parliamentary framework but still provide services for the national government.
Examples of these institutions include the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), the Road Accident Fund (RAF), and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
According to the QES pay data, these entities are classified as government sector entities and earned an average monthly salary of R56,836 in the fourth quarter, up slightly from R56,413 in the third quarter.
The latest QES figures reflect pay trends from October to December 2025.
Overall, EBI workers ranked sixth in terms of average salaries for that quarter, with higher earnings reported in sectors such as technology services, electricity and water utilities, and financial intermediaries.
However, EBI workers are part of a broader trend of above-average earnings in the government sector, as all government sectors reported average salaries exceeding the non-agricultural formal average of R30,251 for the quarter.
With over two million people employed in public service, the government stands as one of the largest employers in South Africa.
State employees have benefited from significant wage increases over the years that have consistently outpaced inflation.
While government salaries were frozen during the challenging COVID-19 years, negotiations between unions and the government have once again moved towards raises above inflation.
In the approved 2025 budget, the National Treasury had to allocate billions more to accommodate the latest salary increases.
The government has agreed to a wage increase of 5.5% for workers this year, surpassing the projections set in the previous Budget and MTBPS.
The National Treasury estimates that this agreement will add R7.3 billion to the fiscal budget for 2025/26, R7.8 billion for 2026/27, and R8.2 billion for 2027/28.
| Government Job Sector | Employed | Average Monthly Salary (Q4) |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Budgetary Institutions | 80 647 | R56 836 |
| Universities and technikons | 113 668 | R42 631 |
| National departments | 440 666 | R41 001 |
| Provincial departments | 1 124 225 | R38 073 |
| Local government | 348 875 | R35 626 |
| TVET Colleges | 21 751 | R30 251 |
Salaries of other sectors
Recent data shows a significant income disparity between the highest- and lowest-earning sectors.
Employees in activities auxiliary to financial intermediation (Business Services) earn the highest of R80,573 per month, while workers in hotels and restaurants (Trade) earn the lowest of R12,168 per month.
This means that the average worker in the top financial sector earns nearly seven times as much as a worker in the hospitality sector.
The data indicates that the sectors with the highest levels of employment typically offer salaries that are below average to moderate.
There are only three sectors with over one million employees, and none of them are among the top earners:
Business activities not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.) employ the most people, with 1,132,290 workers, yet provide an average monthly salary of only R23,895.
Provincial departments (Government) have a workforce of 1,124,225, offering an average monthly salary of R38,073.
Retail trade employs 1,046,678 individuals but ranks low in terms of compensation, with an average monthly salary of R14,661.
In contrast, the highest salaries are found in the financial and electricity sectors, which have significantly smaller workforces of 143,581 and 49,623 employees, respectively.
