Average Salary in Durban (2026)
KwaZulu-Natal's median monthly earnings of R4,800/month sit 14% below the national median, reflecting the province's mixed economy of logistics, manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture. Stats SA notes KwaZulu-Natal recorded the lowest employment retention rate among major provinces in 2023 (86.6%), though this also reflects high labour mobility in the region.
KwaZulu-Natal · Median monthly earnings · All employed persons
Source: Stats SA Labour Market Dynamics in South Africa, 2023 (Table 4.15) · Includes all employed persons in KwaZulu-Natal (formal + informal sector)
Salary by occupation type (national)
National median monthly earnings by occupation — Stats SA Table 4.13/4.14 (2023). KwaZulu-Natal 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 Durban
KwaZulu-Natal is close to the national cost-of-living average — slightly above it in coastal property areas like Umhlanga, but significantly more affordable than Cape Town or Johannesburg.
Cost of living: wisemove.co.za cost-of-living estimates, 2025 (indicative only)
Real purchasing power (indicative)
Adjusting KwaZulu-Natal's median of R 4 800 for the estimated cost-of-living differential gives a purchasing-power equivalent of roughly R 4 571 in national terms — 18% below the national median. This is an estimate.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Durban?
Stats SA reports median monthly earnings for all employed KwaZulu-Natal workers of R4,800/month in 2023 — 14% below the national median of R5,600/month. This covers all employed persons including agricultural and informal sector workers. Formal professional roles earn significantly above this figure.
Is Durban cheaper to live in than Johannesburg?
Yes — KwaZulu-Natal's cost of living is generally lower than Gauteng's, particularly for housing outside of Umhlanga. The lower salary-to-cost differential is smaller than the nominal gap suggests.
Why does KwaZulu-Natal have a lower median than Gauteng?
KZN has a larger informal economy and more agricultural employment (sugarcane farming) than Gauteng — sectors that typically pay below the formal sector median. Gauteng's concentration of corporate head offices, finance, and mining pushes its median significantly higher.
What employment trends apply to KwaZulu-Natal?
Stats SA 2023 data shows KZN had the lowest employment retention rate of any major province at 86.6%, compared to Western Cape (95.6%) and Gauteng (95.2%). It also recorded the highest transition rate into employment among persons with tertiary education — meaning graduates find opportunities, but retaining jobs is more challenging.
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 4 800/mo
- vs National median
- -14%
- Cost of living
- +5% vs national
- Province
- KwaZulu-Natal