Average Salary in Cape Town (2026)
Cape Town and the Western Cape sit just above the national median at R5,700/month for all employed persons — second only to Gauteng among South Africa's nine provinces (Stats SA LMDSA 2023). The province has the highest employment retention rate in the country (95.6%) and a rapidly growing tech sector.
Western Cape · Median monthly earnings · All employed persons
Source: Stats SA Labour Market Dynamics in South Africa, 2023 (Table 4.15) · Includes all employed persons in Western Cape (formal + informal sector)
Salary by occupation type (national)
National median monthly earnings by occupation — Stats SA Table 4.13/4.14 (2023). Western Cape salaries generally run above 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 Cape Town
Cape Town is approximately 20% more expensive than the national average. Property and rental costs are the primary driver — particularly in the Atlantic Seaboard and City Bowl.
Cost of living: wisemove.co.za cost-of-living estimates, 2025 (indicative only)
Real purchasing power (indicative)
Adjusting Western Cape's median of R 5 700 for the estimated cost-of-living differential gives a purchasing-power equivalent of roughly R 4 750 in national terms — 15% below the national median. This is an estimate.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Cape Town?
Stats SA reports median monthly earnings for all employed Western Cape workers of R5,700/month in 2023 — just above the national median of R5,600/month. Cape Town ranks second among all provinces. Note that this includes all workers; formal professional roles earn significantly more.
How does Cape Town compare to Johannesburg for salaries?
Gauteng's provincial median (R8,000/month) is 40% higher than the Western Cape's (R5,700/month). However, Cape Town's formal tech sector is increasingly competitive with Johannesburg for white-collar roles, and the remote-work premium lifts top earners significantly.
Is Cape Town more expensive than Johannesburg?
Yes — Cape Town's cost of living is typically estimated at 5–10% higher than Johannesburg's, primarily due to property and rental costs. The Atlantic Seaboard is among the most expensive residential areas in South Africa.
Does the Western Cape have good employment prospects?
Yes — the Western Cape has the highest employment retention rate in South Africa (95.6% in 2023, Stats SA) and the highest labour force participation rate (68.7%). It has consistently outperformed other provinces on these indicators.
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 5 700/mo
- vs National median
- +2%
- Cost of living
- +20% vs national
- Province
- Western Cape