Average Salary in Bloemfontein (2026)
The Free State sits at R5,000/month median monthly earnings — 11% below the national median but notably above KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape (Stats SA LMDSA 2023). Bloemfontein, as South Africa's judicial capital, has a public-sector-heavy economy with structured salary scales and relatively stable employment.
Free State · Median monthly earnings · All employed persons
Source: Stats SA Labour Market Dynamics in South Africa, 2023 (Table 4.15) · Includes all employed persons in Free State (formal + informal sector)
Salary by occupation type (national)
National median monthly earnings by occupation — Stats SA Table 4.13/4.14 (2023). Free State salaries generally run below these national figures.
Professionals
Engineers, accountants, lawyers, doctors, IT specialists
R 25 000
median/month
Managers
Senior managers, directors, executives
R 24 000
median/month
Technicians
Nursing associates, IT technicians, draughtspersons
R 19 500
median/month
Skilled workers
Broadly: all professional, managerial, and technical roles combined
R 22 000
median/month
Clerks
Administrative clerks, data-entry, receptionists
R 10 000
median/month
Craft & trades
Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders
R 6 400
median/month
Machine operators
Factory operators, drivers, assemblers
R 6 390
median/month
Sales & services
Shop assistants, waiters, security guards, cleaners
R 6 000
median/month
Elementary workers
Labourers, general workers, messengers
R 4 100
median/month
Domestic workers
Housekeepers, gardeners, childminders
R 1 950
median/month
National figures · Stats SA LMDSA 2023, Table 4.13/4.14 · Gross monthly medians across all employed persons in each occupation
Formal sector earnings by industry (national)
Average monthly earnings in formal non-agricultural employment by industry — Stats SA Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES), 2023. These are national averages, not medians, covering formal sector employees only.
Utilities (electricity, water)
Highest-paying formal sector; Eskom, Rand Water etc.
R 41 681
avg/month
Services (community & social)
R 26 031
avg/month
Mining
R 25 021
avg/month
Transport & storage
R 24 939
avg/month
Finance & business services
R 23 825
avg/month
Manufacturing
R 18 526
avg/month
Construction
R 17 611
avg/month
Trade (wholesale & retail)
Large employer; many part-time and entry-level roles
R 13 862
avg/month
National averages (not medians) · Formal non-agricultural sector only · Stats SA Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES), 2023
Cost of living in Bloemfontein
The Free State is approximately 15% cheaper than the national cost-of-living average, making Bloemfontein one of South Africa's most affordable cities.
Cost of living: wisemove.co.za cost-of-living estimates, 2025 (indicative only)
Real purchasing power (indicative)
Adjusting Free State's median of R 5 000 for the estimated cost-of-living differential gives a purchasing-power equivalent of roughly R 5 882 in national terms — 5% above the national median. This is an estimate.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Bloemfontein?
Stats SA reports median monthly earnings for all employed Free State workers of R5,000/month in 2023 — 11% below the national median of R5,600/month. This covers all workers including agricultural and informal sector employees.
Is Bloemfontein affordable to live in?
Yes — the Free State is roughly 15% cheaper than the national cost-of-living average. Bloemfontein has some of the most affordable rental and property prices of any major South African city, making it attractive for remote workers and retirees.
What is the highest-paying sector in Bloemfontein?
Government and public services — including the Supreme Court of Appeal, provincial departments, and the University of the Free State — are the main formal employers. Nationally, the services sector averages R26,031/month in formal employment (Stats SA QES 2023).
How does Bloemfontein compare to other SA cities for salaries?
Free State's R5,000/month median sits between the Eastern Cape (R4,500) and the Western Cape (R5,700). It is significantly below Gauteng (R8,000) but above Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. The lower cost of living partially offsets the salary gap with coastal metros.
Primary source: Stats SA Labour Market Dynamics in South Africa, 2023 (Report 02-11-02), Table 4.15
Provincial median = all employed persons including informal sector, domestic workers, and part-time employees. Occupation and industry figures are national (not provincial). Cost-of-living differentials are third-party estimates. Individual earnings vary significantly by employer, role, sector, and experience.
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Quick facts
- Provincial median
- R 5 000/mo
- vs National median
- -11%
- Cost of living
- -15% vs national
- Province
- Free State