Salaries in South Africa
R 5,500a month
Median monthly salary, 2020.
- Yearly
- R 66,000
- Equals
- $334
Top 10 highest paying
- Specialist doctorR 330,800
- DoctorR 274,600
- Military officerR 214,600
- JudgeR 257,100
- LawyerR 240,400
- SoldierR 190,600
- Mine engineerR 233,200
- AstrophysicistR 232,800
- Electrical engineerR 230,000
- DentistR 229,600
Top 10 lowest paying
- Subsistence crop farmersR 13,600
- Subsistence mixed crop and livestock farmersR 13,620
- Subsistence livestock farmersR 13,750
- Tree doctorR 14,380
- Poultry sexerR 14,600
- HorticulturistR 14,840
- Subsistence fishers, hunters, trappers and gatherersR 15,100
- Crop producerR 15,220
- Crop team leaderR 15,260
- Mixed farmerR 15,570
By major occupation group
| Armed forces | R 16,550 a month |
| Professionals | R 17,000 a month |
| Managers | R 12,000 a month |
| Technicians and associate professionals | R 9,000 a month |
| Plant and machine operators | R 7,000 a month |
| Craft and related trades workers | R 4,999 a month |
| Service and sales workers | R 4,711 a month |
| Clerical support workers | R 4,500 a month |
| Elementary occupations | R 2,500 a month |
| Agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | R 1,262 a month |
All jobs
- AccountantR 194,100
- Accounts assistantR 55,050
- Accounts clerkR 96,210
- ActorR 135,900
- ActuaryR 211,100
- Agricultural technicianR 97,930
- Aid workerR 68,450
- Air traffic controllerR 161,100
- Air traffic safety technicianR 114,700
- Aircraft technicianR 72,450
- Airline pilotR 164,500
- Animal carerR 51,680
- AnnouncerR 178,500
- AnthropologistR 177,400
- Apiarists and sericulturistsR 16,590
- Aquaculture support workerR 16,590
- ArchitectR 188,400
- Art directorR 191,800
- ArtistR 178,300
- AstrologerR 57,450
- AstrophysicistR 232,800
- AthleteR 105,900
- Audio-visual technicianR 100,100
- Audiology technicianR 91,220
- Audit clerkR 59,280
- Auto mechanicR 56,860
- Avionics mechanicR 67,850
- Ballet dancerR 159,300
- BartenderR 49,360
- BasketmakerR 48,620
- BeauticianR 48,670
- Benefits officerR 105,100
- Bicycle mechanicR 55,110
- Bike assemblerR 72,600
- Bindery workerR 47,770
- BlacksmithR 57,620
- BlasterR 68,380
- Boiler operatorR 108,800
- BricklayerR 61,480
- Broadcast engineerR 225,000
- BuilderR 62,170
- Bus driverR 84,950
- ButcherR 49,790
- BuyerR 104,100
- CabinetmakerR 53,750
- Call centre agentR 58,050
- Candle factory workerR 54,560
- Car assemblerR 82,920
- Car cleanerR 28,120
- Car electricianR 68,610
- Car painterR 56,970
- Career coachR 181,800
- CaretakerR 58,550
- CarpenterR 59,050
- Carpet workerR 49,460
- CashierR 46,210
- CEOR 171,700
- Cheese makerR 63,560
- ChefR 88,600
- Chemical engineerR 216,900
- Chemical engineering technicianR 119,600
- Chemical operatorR 122,400
- Chemical products plant and machine operatorsR 93,970
- ChemistR 195,900
- Chief engineerR 128,600
- Childcare centre managerR 105,000
- Civil engineerR 210,600
- Civils workerR 37,960
- CleanerR 26,210
- CleanersR 30,600
- Clerical support workers not elsewhere classifiedR 51,800
- Client information workers not elsewhere classifiedR 49,830
- Clinical research assistantR 85,480
- Cnc operatorR 60,860
- Coffee tasterR 54,250
- Commodity traderR 121,100
- Community health workerR 102,200
- CompanionR 54,860
- Concrete finisherR 62,820
- Construction foremanR 125,900
- Construction managerR 126,500
- Construction workerR 33,040
- CookR 51,960
- Corporate trainerR 183,700
- Correctional officerR 72,480
- Corrugator operatorR 82,720
- CourierR 29,760
- Craft and related workers not elsewhere classifiedR 48,230
- Crane operatorsR 99,180
- Crop producerR 15,220
- Crop team leaderR 15,260
- CroupierR 46,910
- Cure operatorR 79,860
- Customer service clerkR 50,070
- Customs agentR 97,130
- Customs officerR 108,100
- Dance teacherR 101,400
- Data administratorR 207,700
- Data centre operatorR 122,300
- Data entry clerkR 48,910
- Database and network professionals not elsewhere classifiedR 215,500
- Day care workerR 52,980
- Debt collectorR 57,950
- Deep-sea fishermanR 15,720
- Dental hygienistR 90,700
- DentistR 229,600
- DietitianR 170,000
- DoctorR 274,600
- Door to door sellerR 56,800
- DraughtspersonR 108,500
- Driving instructorR 66,810
- Earthmoving and related plant operatorsR 92,660
- EconomistR 220,100
- Education officerR 182,400
- Electric powerline workerR 76,010
- Electrical assemblerR 73,520
- Electrical engineerR 230,000
- Electrical technicianR 117,900
- ElectricianR 64,550
- Electronic engineerR 222,900
- Electronics engineering technicianR 110,000
- Elementary school teacherR 183,200
- EmbalmerR 60,740
- EmbroidererR 49,630
- Employment agentR 105,700
- Energy managerR 148,300
- Environment engineerR 201,300
- Environmental protection professionalsR 184,100
- Esol teacherR 156,800
- Event coordinatorR 96,960
- Executive assistantR 102,600
- Fabric cutterR 46,490
- Fabric dyerR 74,220
- Façade cleanerR 46,170
- Facility managerR 148,100
- Factory labourerR 31,350
- Farm equipment operatorR 81,530
- Farm handR 30,230
- Farm handsR 28,580
- Fast food workerR 20,270
- Fiacre driverR 27,330
- File clerkR 54,770
- Fill operatorR 67,610
- Finance adviserR 132,500
- Finance managerR 162,000
- Financial analystR 212,700
- FinancierR 213,000
- Fire alarm technicianR 65,850
- FirefighterR 80,120
- Fisheries boatmanR 15,720
- Fishery production managerR 109,500
- Fitness club managerR 110,900
- Flight attendantR 62,350
- Food and related products machine operatorsR 75,290
- Food service workerR 45,670
- Food stall holderR 51,020
- Forest rangerR 15,890
- Forest workerR 32,380
- ForesterR 119,200
- Forestry advisorR 194,100
- Forestry technicianR 100,000
- Forklift operatorR 77,900
- Fruit, vegetable and related preserversR 51,710
- Fur animal rearerR 16,860
- Garage managerR 127,400
- GardenerR 30,180
- Garment presserR 27,080
- Gas station salespersonR 46,080
- General managerR 139,300
- GeologistR 217,100
- GlassblowerR 51,560
- GlassmakerR 82,560
- GlazierR 57,280
- Gluing operatorR 68,650
- GraderR 56,050
- GrinderR 55,990
- GuideR 54,880
- Gym workerR 28,850
- HairdresserR 48,600
- Hand and pedal vehicle driversR 29,350
- Head of marketingR 158,500
- Health professionals not elsewhere classifiedR 168,800
- Health records clerkR 99,930
- Health screenerR 93,600
- Heat treat operatorR 84,020
- Hide machine operatorR 74,690
- High school teacherR 194,500
- HistorianR 185,600
- HorticulturistR 14,840
- Hotel managerR 110,000
- Hotel receptionistR 44,920
- House managerR 57,950
- Household managerR 56,230
- HousekeeperR 26,550
- HR managerR 147,800
- HunterR 15,870
- Hvac mechanicR 64,910
- Industrial engineerR 217,200
- Industrial painterR 54,630
- Information clerkR 51,770
- InsulatorR 59,700
- Insurance agentR 160,700
- Insurance sellerR 111,200
- IT presales technicianR 212,900
- IT project managerR 165,400
- IT technicianR 106,500
- IT trainerR 178,300
- JewellerR 51,660
- JournalistR 180,500
- JudgeR 257,100
- Kitchen assistantR 26,160
- Laboratory technologistR 100,000
- Landscape architectR 189,800
- Laser technicianR 119,100
- Laundry workerR 64,240
- LawyerR 240,400
- Legal aideR 103,600
- Legal professionals not elsewhere classifiedR 207,100
- Legal secretaryR 90,200
- LegislatorsR 67,780
- LibrarianR 179,500
- Library assistantR 50,560
- Livestock and dairy producersR 15,850
- Livestock farm labourersR 29,210
- Loan officerR 109,800
- Logistics managerR 134,100
- Loss adjusterR 114,300
- Machine oilerR 67,970
- Mail carrierR 54,110
- Management consultantR 213,800
- Manufacturing directorR 143,200
- Market traderR 57,030
- Marketing specialistR 192,300
- Mechanical engineerR 221,100
- Mechanical engineering technicianR 121,500
- Medical assistantR 82,580
- Medical herbalistR 95,420
- Medical laboratory technicianR 99,640
- Medical transcriberR 90,700
- Medical writerR 172,700
- Metal casterR 89,510
- Metal filerR 82,110
- Metal furnace operatorR 112,800
- Metal molderR 56,610
- Metal workerR 58,680
- MetallurgistR 114,100
- MetalworkerR 61,430
- MeteorologistR 214,600
- Meter readerR 30,660
- MidwifeR 197,900
- Midwife assistantR 105,800
- Military officerR 214,600
- Mine engineerR 233,200
- Mine supervisorR 127,700
- MinersR 101,700
- Mining assistantR 38,270
- Mixed farmerR 15,570
- Motorcyle courierR 74,390
- Museum curatorR 173,900
- Museum technicianR 91,750
- Music teacherR 162,100
- MusicianR 161,100
- Network engineerR 112,600
- Networks engineerR 215,000
- Nursing assistantR 57,210
- Nursing associate professionalsR 99,090
- Nursing home managerR 132,000
- Odd job personsR 31,790
- Office clerkR 53,970
- Office managerR 109,300
- Operations managerR 160,100
- OpticianR 87,670
- OptometristR 188,800
- Other artistic and cultural associate professionalsR 102,600
- Paper makerR 85,400
- ParamedicR 115,300
- Paramedical practitionersR 215,000
- Passport officerR 106,900
- Pastry cookR 47,570
- Patent agentR 123,000
- PawnbrokerR 44,100
- Payroll clerkR 59,720
- PerformerR 127,500
- Personal care attendantR 55,770
- Personal care workers in health services not elsewhere classifiedR 57,110
- Personnel clerksR 57,200
- Pest control technicianR 53,270
- Petty officerR 177,600
- PharmacistR 209,200
- Photo retoucherR 71,260
- PhotographerR 90,630
- Physical therapistR 171,900
- Piano tunerR 59,910
- Picker and packerR 27,580
- PlastererR 56,590
- PlumberR 63,310
- Police detectiveR 142,100
- Police officerR 81,380
- Policy analystR 191,500
- PotterR 52,830
- Poultry sexerR 14,600
- Power plant operatorR 126,000
- Prepress technicianR 54,570
- Preschool teacherR 154,500
- Preschool teaching assistantR 53,230
- Primary school managerR 144,800
- Print operatorR 53,090
- Prison teacherR 165,900
- Process operatorR 138,700
- Product designerR 177,900
- Product managerR 157,500
- Production line coordinatorR 60,870
- Production supervisorR 119,500
- ProfessorR 198,800
- Project managerR 144,300
- Promotions demonstratorR 48,870
- ProofreaderR 57,320
- PsychologistR 197,300
- Public health inspectorR 194,600
- Public relations professionalsR 180,000
- Pulp control workerR 97,070
- Quality inspectorR 112,800
- Radiologic technologistR 117,200
- Rail conductorR 58,530
- Real estate agentR 107,900
- ReceptionistR 44,980
- Registered nurseR 199,800
- Regulatory government associate professionals not elsewhere classifiedR 101,600
- Religious professionalsR 156,700
- Religious workerR 91,060
- Rental sales workerR 56,250
- Restaurant managerR 96,250
- Retail sales associateR 55,350
- Retail store supervisorR 62,860
- Riding instructorR 78,710
- Rig drillerR 102,000
- RiggerR 67,370
- RooferR 47,660
- Runway modelR 49,910
- Sales engineerR 207,100
- Sales representativeR 113,300
- Sawmill operatorR 79,780
- Scribes and related workersR 55,260
- SecretaryR 55,490
- Security guardR 60,540
- Senior government officialsR 166,900
- Set designerR 92,230
- Sewing machine operatorR 64,630
- Sex workerR 50,030
- Shelf stackerR 26,140
- Ship pilotR 120,600
- Ships’ deck crews and related workersR 87,780
- ShoemakerR 48,500
- Shop keeperR 75,410
- Sign installerR 54,120
- SignalmanR 102,500
- Slitter operatorR 79,240
- Social care workerR 95,700
- Social media managerR 159,500
- Social services managerR 128,100
- Social workerR 175,600
- Software developerR 221,900
- Software programmerR 204,900
- Software testerR 211,800
- SoldierR 190,600
- SorterR 32,310
- Special needs teacherR 185,100
- Specialist doctorR 330,800
- Speech therapistR 177,300
- Sport coachR 76,640
- StatisticianR 118,000
- Steel erectorR 63,690
- Stock coordinatorR 52,550
- Stone fabricatorR 84,270
- Stone planerR 84,910
- StonemasonR 60,140
- Store managerR 120,700
- Street and related service workersR 30,600
- Street sweeperR 31,680
- Street vendorR 30,510
- Subsistence crop farmersR 13,600
- Subsistence fishers, hunters, trappers and gatherersR 15,100
- Subsistence livestock farmersR 13,750
- Subsistence mixed crop and livestock farmersR 13,620
- Survey enumeratorR 51,400
- SurveyorR 195,900
- Switchboard operatorR 55,510
- Systems administratorR 207,000
- Systems analystR 225,000
- TailorR 42,970
- TannerR 52,100
- Tax officerR 112,900
- Taxi driverR 71,000
- Technical aideR 112,600
- Telecom administratorR 118,200
- TellerR 57,150
- Tent builderR 60,320
- Test engineerR 217,700
- Textile braiderR 71,760
- Textile machine operatorR 69,740
- Therapy assistantR 78,400
- Tile installerR 56,550
- Tobacco dryerR 53,540
- Trades union officialR 150,700
- Traditional chiefs and heads of villageR 168,300
- Traditional therapistR 150,900
- Train driverR 117,500
- TranslatorR 166,300
- Transport clerksR 60,270
- Travel agentR 51,020
- Tree doctorR 14,380
- Truck driverR 86,470
- TypistR 51,500
- Underwater welderR 65,580
- UpholstererR 50,010
- Urban plannerR 199,700
- UX designerR 166,000
- Vet technicianR 81,330
- VeterinarianR 203,900
- Vocational teacherR 180,100
- WaiterR 47,140
- Warehouse workerR 32,340
- Waste collectorR 32,220
- Watch makerR 58,800
- Water and firewood collectorsR 30,170
- Water plant operatorR 108,200
- Water-based fisheries workerR 28,960
- Web developerR 205,100
- Web technicianR 122,400
- WelderR 59,810
- Wind technicianR 98,530
- Winder operatorR 70,400
- Window washerR 30,160
- Wood treaterR 55,150
- WoodworkerR 51,880
- ZoologistR 200,500
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOSTAT), pay by major occupation group. How we calculate