Average Income South Africa 2026
The average monthly salary in South Africa is R29,690 gross (Stats SA QES, November 2025, formal non-agricultural sector), but the median tells a very different story. Here's the full picture by province, sector, and gender.
What is the average income in South Africa?
The average monthly salary in South Africa is R29,690 gross (Stats SA QES, Q4 2025, formal non-agricultural sector). The median is significantly lower — approximately R7,000 per month — because a small number of high earners pull the mean up. Half of all employed South Africans earn below R7,000 per month.
✓ Fact-checkedUpdated 1 April 2026Sources: StatsSA QLFS 2025 Q3·SARS 2026/27
Key takeaways
- ✓The median South African monthly wage is approximately R4,500 (Stats SA QLFS Q4 2025) — half of workers earn less.
- ✓Average income varies significantly by province: Gauteng and Western Cape are highest, Eastern Cape and Limpopo lowest.
- ✓The gap between median and mean income is wide — a small number of high earners pull the average up significantly.
- ✓After-tax take-home is typically 15–25% lower than the gross figures shown in salary surveys.
Mean average (formal sector)
R29,690
Stats SA QES November 2025
Median monthly salary
~R7,000
Half of all employed earn below this
National minimum wage
R30.23/hr
~R5,250/month for 40h week
Why the mean and median are so different
South Africa has one of the world's highest Gini coefficients (~0.63). A small number of executives and professionals earning R100,000–R500,000+/month pull the mean average up sharply. The median — the salary earned by the person exactly in the middle of all earners — is a far better measure of what a typical South African worker actually takes home.
Average salary by province
| Province | Avg monthly (gross) |
|---|---|
| Western Cape | R 43 000 |
| Gauteng | R 40 000 |
| Northern Cape | R 33 500 |
| North West | R 30 500 |
| Free State | R 27 000 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | R 27 000 |
| Mpumalanga | R 26 500 |
| Limpopo | R 24 000 |
| Eastern Cape | R 23 500 |
Data: Stats SA QES Q4 2025 · SARS PAYE data 2024/25 · See methodology
Average salary by sector
| Sector | Avg monthly (gross) |
|---|---|
| Finance & Insurance | R 73 000 |
| Mining & Quarrying | R 61 000 |
| Electricity, Gas & Water | R 58 000 |
| Professional & Tech Services | R 55 500 |
| Government & Public Admin | R 42 000 |
| Manufacturing | R 34 500 |
| Construction | R 28 000 |
| Wholesale & Retail | R 25 000 |
| Community & Social Services | R 24 000 |
| Agriculture | R 18 000 |
How average income has grown (2019–2026)
Average formal sector earnings have grown by roughly 4–6% per year since 2019, broadly tracking CPI inflation — meaning real (inflation-adjusted) income has been largely flat for most workers.
| Year | Avg monthly (gross) |
|---|---|
| 2026 (est.)Latest | R 31 170 |
| 2025 (Nov) | R 29 690 |
| 2024 (Nov) | R 28 300 |
| 2023 (Nov) | R 26 930 |
| 2022 (Nov) | R 25 550 |
| 2021 (Nov) | R 24 060 |
| 2020 (Nov) | R 23 180 |
| 2019 (Nov) | R 22 570 |
Source: Stats SA QES P0277 (formal non-agricultural sector). 2026 is an estimate based on the 2025 trend. CPI figures from Stats SA P0141. Real wage growth has been near-zero or negative in most years when accounting for inflation.
Where do you sit? Income percentiles in South Africa
Because income in South Africa is so unequally distributed, the mean average of R29,690/month is misleading. Here is where different salary levels sit in the full working population (including informal workers and the unemployed who want to work):
| Monthly gross salary | Approximate percentile |
|---|---|
| R4,500/month | 50th (median) |
| R10,000/month | Top 30% |
| R20,000/month | Top 20% |
| R29,690/month | Top 15% (mean avg) |
| R50,000/month | Top 8–10% |
| R100,000/month | Top 2–3% |
| R200,000/month | Top 0.5% |
Estimates based on Stats SA QLFS Q3 2025, Labour Market Dynamics, and SARS personal income tax statistics. Percentiles cover the full labour force including informal workers, not just formal sector. Treat as approximate guides — exact percentile depends on occupation, province, and year.
How does your salary compare?
Calculate your take-home and see where you sit relative to the average.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average income in South Africa in 2026?
According to Stats SA Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES), average monthly earnings in the formal non-agricultural sector reached R29,690 gross in November 2025 (Q4 2025 data) — up 4.9% year-on-year. This covers formal employed workers and excludes agriculture and the informal sector. The median monthly salary is significantly lower — around R6,500–R8,000/month across all employment — because a small number of very high earners pull the mean upward.
What is the median salary in South Africa?
The median monthly salary in South Africa is estimated at approximately R6,500–R8,000/month gross, based on Stats SA Labour Market Dynamics data. This means half of all employed South Africans earn below this amount. The median is a better indicator of the 'typical' worker's experience than the mean average.
Why is the average income so different from the median?
South Africa has one of the highest levels of income inequality in the world (Gini coefficient of ~0.63). A relatively small proportion of highly-paid professionals and executives significantly raises the mean (average) salary. The median — which is not affected by these extremes — gives a more realistic picture of what most workers earn.
Does average income differ by gender in South Africa?
Yes. The Stats SA data consistently shows a gender pay gap. On average, male employees earn approximately 20–30% more than female employees in formal employment. The gap is partly attributed to occupational segregation (women more concentrated in lower-paid sectors), fewer women in senior management, and career interruptions.
What is a good salary compared to the South African average?
The formal sector average is R29,690/month (Stats SA QES Q4 2025). Earning R30,000/month places you near the mean — roughly the 50th–55th percentile of formal sector workers. R50,000+/month is top 15–20% of formal sector earners. R100,000+/month is top 5%. Note that the QES covers formal non-agricultural employment only — the majority of South Africans including informal workers earn significantly less, making R29,690 a high bar compared to the full labour market.
Source: BusinessTech — Average salary South Africa end of 2025 (reporting Stats SA QES P0277 Q4 2025). National average R29,690/month (November 2025, formal non-agricultural sector, +4.9% y/y). Province and sector breakdowns are estimates calibrated to the national QES average. Median salary sourced from Stats SA Labour Market Dynamics. Updated annually.
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