SALARIES IN SOUTH AFRICA - A REVIEW OF OUR TOP 10 SECTORS
This Salary Review has been compiled exclusively for South African job seekers and the HR/Recruitment industry to give a true representation of cost-to-company salary packages in South Africa. It contains up-to-date salary information as well as regional differences in monthly remuneration using actual salary offerings on our website (17 000+ jobs monthly) for the latest measurable period (May to November 2018).
Skill Levels
Skill levels covered in our report include intermediate level and senior level skills.
Intermediate? You have more skills than a beginner but you're not quite an expert yet.
Senior? You have more skills and experience compared to a person with intermediate skills.
About the Salary Data
The salary ranges in this report are based on the actual salaries offered to intermediate and senior level candidates, by companies that posted jobs on CareerJunction during the latest measurable period. These salary ranges represent monthly 'cost to company' remuneration and only serve as an indication of the average salary offerings for each occupation.
Did you know?
Salary offerings for the same job sometimes differ between provinces. In most cases, earning potential is closely linked to supply (job seekers) and demand (jobs) trends for certain skill sets. For example, when candidates are highly sought after in an area, but candidate availability is limited, higher salaries are offered to make the role more attractive.
Click on any sector to jump to it and remember to keep your online CV / Career Profile updated (here are some CV tips to help).
ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING
Architectural Draughting
Intermediate R23,062 - R28,378
Senior R23,922 - R31,000
Architecture
Senior R38,590 - R47,974
Automotive Engineering
Intermediate R25,300 - R35,667
Senior R41,944 - R49,924
Civil / Structural Engineering
Intermediate R32,388 - R43,902
Senior R53,994 - R70,826
Electrical Engineering
Intermediate R36,654 - R47,852
Senior R45,135 - R51,054
Electronic Engineering
Intermediate R37,552 - R52,969
Senior R40,833 - R54,861
Industrial Engineering
Intermediate R34,763 - R43,624
Senior R44,143 - R57,573
Mechanical Engineering
Intermediate R35,516 - R45,471
Senior R44,642 - R59,587
Engineering Technician
Intermediate R20,943 - R27,652
Senior R27,008 - R35,863
Engineering Draughtsman
Intermediate R20,943 - R27,652
Senior R25,076 - R33,077
REGIONAL SALARY DIFFERENCES
Salary offerings for architects and engineers in the Western Cape are comparable with KwaZulu-Natal. However, remuneration for professionals in these regions are considerably lower than in Gauteng.
Architecture & Engineering Jobs
GENDER PAY GAP
In South Africa women earn on average 28% less than men.
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
Quantity Surveying
Intermediate R29,606 - R39,439
Senior R31,417 - R43,083
Consulting Engineering
Intermediate R31,587 - R41,508
Senior R40,465 - R53,527
Building Project Management
Intermediate R27,399 - R35,328
Senior R38,604 - R47,538
Metal, Iron, Steel & Rebar Works
Intermediate R19,833 - R24,867
Senior R25,250 - R30,704
Electrician
Intermediate R20,267 - R25,932
Senior R27,479 - R32,758
Building Foreman
Intermediate R27,093 - R34,667
Senior R39,286 - R54,792
Structural Engineering
Intermediate R30,917 - R41,778
Senior R55,072 - R78,264
Civil Engineering
Intermediate R37,179 - R46,212
Senior R50,525 - R65,621
REGIONAL SALARY DIFFERENCES
There is very little difference in earnings for professionals in the construction sector across Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
GENDER PAY GAP
In South Africa women earn on average 28% less than men.
WAREHOUSING & LOGISTICS
Warehouse Operations
Intermediate R15,792 - R18,985
Senior R16,125 - R20,833
Warehouse Management
Intermediate R29,821 - R35,731
Senior R30,278 - R40,365
Dispatch & Receiving
Intermediate R9,354 - R12,756
Senior R9,800 - R14,045
Distribution / Courier Service
Intermediate R10,050 - R13,688
Air, Land & Sea Freight
Intermediate R11,100 - R12,900
Logistics Management
Intermediate R41,767 - R46,960
Senior R40,906 - R52,048
REGIONAL SALARY DIFFERENCES
Earning potential for professionals in the warehousing & logistics sector is far greater in Gauteng as well as the Western Cape compared to KwaZulu-Natal, where salary offerings are up to 13% below average.
GENDER PAY GAP
In South Africa women earn on average 28% less than men.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Intermediate R36,374 - R44,306
Senior R42,118 - R53,782
Technical & Business Architecture
Intermediate R40,485 - R48,897
Senior R46,939 - R56,160
Business Analysis
Intermediate R35,560 - R42,236
Senior R43,429 - R54,138
Systems Analysis
Intermediate R34,722 - R44,484
Senior R43,311 - R53,194
Database Design, Development & Administration
Intermediate R30,333 - R36,767
Senior R30,906 - R39,799
Systems & Network Administration
Intermediate R27,667 - R34,970
Senior R35,478 - R40,625
UX & GUI Design
Intermediate R34,421 - R46,227
Senior R36,987 - R49,414
IT Project Administration & Management
Intermediate R36,590 - R47,387
Senior R41,707 - R52,517
Data Analysis & Data Warehousing
Intermediate R34,231 - R43,158
Senior R45,392 - R52,974
IT Management
Management R48,059 - R58,371
Senior Management R55,718 - R66,141
REGIONAL SALARY DIFFERENCES
Gauteng and the Western Cape are neck to neck when it comes to salary offerings for IT professionals, mirroring demand for IT skills. Salary offerings in these regions are far above those in KwaZulu-Natal.
GENDER PAY GAP
In South Africa women earn on average 28% less than men.
MEDICAL & HEALTH
Nursing / Professional Care Giving
Intermediate R20,886 - R26,969
Senior R23,135 - R35,219
Clinical Facilitator
Intermediate R19,286 - R27,500
Senior R25,100 - R38,983
Radiographer
Intermediate R24,305 - R27,900
Senior R26,556 - R38,333
Pharmacist
Intermediate R32,932 - R40,087
Senior R37,743 - R46,025
Pharmaceutical Assistant
Intermediate R13,700 - R20,333
Nursing Management
Management R28,298 - R36,016
Senior Management R34,888 - R41,861
REGIONAL SALARY DIFFERENCES
There are no noteworthy differences in remuneration for professionals in the medical & health sector across SA’s most populous provinces.
GENDER PAY GAP
In South Africa women earn on average 28% less than men.
FINANCE
Accounting Jobs
Accounts Payable & Receivable
Intermediate R16,140 - R20,020
Senior R23,526 - R27,977
Bookkeeping
Intermediate R14,504 - R18,301
Senior R18,243 - R22,994
Financial/Project Accounting
Intermediate R34,408 - R39,940
Senior R34,425 - R40,556
Cost & Management Accounting
Intermediate R38,837 - R45,682
Senior R45,018 - R50,877
Chartered Accounting
Intermediate R44,359 - R51,438
Senior R47,248 - R54,435
Internal Auditing
Intermediate R30,515 - R35,860
Senior R39,233 - R45,750
Payroll & Wages
Intermediate R19,218 - R23,457
Senior R22,021 - R26,358
Purchasing & Procurement
Intermediate R23,316 - R28,991
Senior R29,117 - R38,113
Taxation
Intermediate R33,136 - R39,225
Senior R39,175 - R50,409
Banking Jobs
Corporate Lending
Intermediate R36,759 - R51,354
Senior R56,218 - R70,218
Credit Management
Intermediate R25,535 - R33,554
Senior R36,170 - R44,642
Debt, Rent / Cash Collection
Intermediate R13,846 - R16,910
Senior R17,198 - R20,744
Financial Advisory Jobs
Financial Analysis
Intermediate R45,908 - R52,506
Senior R50,587 - R59,110
Risk Management
Intermediate R34,031 - R42,760
Senior R39,519 - R47,778
Investment Management
Intermediate R25,667 - R35,976
Senior R37,417 - R45,500
Stock Broking & Asset Management Jobs
Asset Management
Intermediate R30,651 - R40,646
Senior R44,940 - R52,317
Treasury Management
Intermediate R28,194 - R34,511
Senior R29,000 - R35,104
Insurance Jobs
Actuarial Management / Administration
Intermediate R29,411 - R39,289
Senior R38,039 - R49,965
Claims Assessment
Intermediate R16,060 - R22,548
Senior R21,733 - R27,006
Employee Benefits Management / Administration
Intermediate R16,875 - R21,861
Financial Services Consulting
Intermediate R13,567 - R19,386
Senior R13,929 - R20,000
Financial Management Jobs
Financial Management
Management R58,557 - R69,185
Senior Management R66,956 - R79,002
REGIONAL SALARY DIFFERENCES
Salary offerings are extremely competitive for financial professionals in Gauteng, compared to the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Professionals working in Gauteng are offered up to 23% more money than their Western Cape counterparts and up to 28% more than their KZN counterparts.
GENDER PAY GAP
In South Africa women earn on average 28% less than men.
MARKETING
Brand Management
Intermediate R35,357 - R40,821
Senior R41,017 - R50,625
Product Management
Intermediate R30,625 - R38,375
Senior R37,020 - R47,971
SEO Specialist
Intermediate R17,972 - R25,462
Senior R25,500 - R34,167
Advertising
Intermediate R15,522 - R23,401
Senior R22,286 - R31,714
Intermediate R21,797 - R27,541
Senior R31,472 - R38,753
Marketing Assistance
Intermediate R13,451 - R18,716
Marketing Coordinator
Intermediate R17,800 - R22,455
Marketing Management
Management R42,729 - R52,917
Senior Management R45,267 - R56,275
REGIONAL SALARY DIFFERENCES
Gauteng remains at the top of the earning scale for marketing professionals. Although salary offerings in Gauteng are only slightly above the national average, they are far greater than in the Western Cape.
GENDER PAY GAP
In South Africa women earn on average 28% less than men.
SALES
Real Estate & Property Agent
Intermediate R12,375 - R15,976
Travel Agent
Intermediate R14,417 - R19,306
Senior R18,367 - R26,250
Short Term, Life & Medical Insurance Broking
Intermediate R16,250 - R20,511
Senior R17,580 - R21,200
Commodities & Financial Service Agent
Intermediate R13,698 - R22,167
Intermediate R18,109 - R24,750
Senior R24,796 - R33,230
Intermediate R17,605 - R24,786
Senior R23,875 - R28,789
Telesales & Telemarketing
Intermediate R12,078 - R16,025
Senior R15,417 - R21,121
Merchandiser, Product Promoter & Demonstrator
Intermediate R13,639 - R18,611
Sales Administration
Intermediate R11,953 - R14,338
Wholesale
Intermediate R15,067 - R19,083
Trade Broking
Intermediate R18,861 - R28,180
Senior R31,095 - R40,336
Sales Management
Management R34,965 - R43,085
Senior Management R41,055 - R52,890
REGIONAL SALARY DIFFERENCES
Salary offerings for sales professionals are very competitive in Gauteng compared to the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, where earnings are well below the national average.
GENDER PAY GAP
In South Africa women earn on average 28% less than men.
ADMIN, OFFICE & SUPPORT
Intermediate R11,128 - R14,529
Senior R13,619 - R15,226
Personal Assistant
Intermediate R16,610 - R20,201
Senior R25,910 - R30,710
Data Capturing
Intermediate R9,605 - R13,500
Secretary
Intermediate R15,075 - R20,065
Senior R17,682 - R23,554
Switchboard & Reception
Intermediate R9,119 - R11,390
Senior R9,714 - R11,846
Intermediate R17,146 - R21,385
Senior R20,681 - R27,014
Call Centre Operator
Intermediate R12,057 - R16,253
Call Centre Supervisor
Intermediate R21,805 - R29,000
Intermediate R19,605 - R24,445
Senior R28,064 - R32,967
Health, Safety & Environment
Intermediate R23,523 - R28,354
Senior R31,260 - R36,264
REGIONAL SALARY DIFFERENCES
While earnings for professionals in admin and support roles in the Western Cape are on par with the national average, the opposite is seen for professionals in KwaZulu-Natal where earnings are far below the national average. Gauteng on the other hand falls on the other end of the scale where earnings are up to 14% above average.
GENDER PAY GAP
In South Africa women earn on average 28% less than men.
MANUFACTURING & ASSEMBLY
Materials Control
Intermediate R19,608 - R25,179
Artisan
Intermediate R17,119 - R22,098
Senior R17,740 - R23,888
Metallurgy & Boiler Making
Intermediate R22,638 - R26,537
Senior R24,946 - R32,194
Tool & Die Making
Intermediate R26,563 - R31,691
Senior R26,288 - R32,697
Assembling & Fabricating
Intermediate R15,200 - R21,472
Senior R22,698 - R28,183
Machinist
Intermediate R20,809 - R25,400
Senior R25,908 - R30,816
Plant & System Operator
Intermediate R15,333 - R20,282
Intermediate R20,798 - R24,912
Senior R23,049 - R30,298
Process Control
Intermediate R21,205 - R26,032
Quality Control
Intermediate R20,955 - R26,822
Senior R26,485 - R31,197
Plant Management
Management R51,891 - R70,286
Senior Management R57,051 - R72,583
REGIONAL SALARY DIFFERENCES
There are no noteworthy differences in remuneration for professionals in manufacturing & assembly across SA’s most populous provinces.
GENDER PAY GAP
In South Africa women earn on average 28% less than men.
