Average Salary in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) (2026)
The Eastern Cape ties with Limpopo for the lowest provincial median monthly earnings at R4,500/month — 20% below the national median (Stats SA LMDSA 2023). Stats SA's analysis flags the Eastern Cape as a province of concern: employment transition rates are low regardless of age, education, or work experience, suggesting structural barriers beyond individual qualifications.
Eastern 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 Eastern Cape (formal + informal sector)
Salary by occupation type (national)
National median monthly earnings by occupation — Stats SA Table 4.13/4.14 (2023). Eastern Cape 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 Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)
The Eastern Cape is roughly 5% below the national cost-of-living average, making Port Elizabeth one of South Africa's most affordable coastal cities.
Cost of living: wisemove.co.za cost-of-living estimates, 2025 (indicative only)
Real purchasing power (indicative)
Adjusting Eastern Cape's median of R 4 500 for the estimated cost-of-living differential gives a purchasing-power equivalent of roughly R 4 737 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 Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)?
Stats SA reports median monthly earnings for all employed Eastern Cape workers of R4,500/month in 2023 — 20% below the national median of R5,600/month. The Eastern Cape ties with Limpopo for the lowest provincial median.
What industries pay the most in Port Elizabeth?
Automotive manufacturing is the highest-paying sector — Volkswagen SA and Ford SA operate major assembly plants in Gqeberha. Nationally, the manufacturing formal sector average is R18,526/month (Stats SA QES 2023). Skilled trades and engineering roles in the automotive cluster earn above this figure.
Why does the Eastern Cape have low earnings?
Stats SA identifies the Eastern Cape as having structural employment barriers: transition rates into employment are low regardless of age, education, or work experience. The province has historically high unemployment and limited private sector investment outside of the automotive cluster.
Is Port Elizabeth affordable to live in?
Yes — the Eastern Cape is roughly 5% below the national cost-of-living average. Port Elizabeth has some of the most affordable coastal accommodation in South Africa, which makes it increasingly attractive for remote workers earning above-market salaries.
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 4 500/mo
- vs National median
- -20%
- Cost of living
- -5% vs national
- Province
- Eastern Cape