Find Out Which Jobs in South Africa Offer Salaries Above the National Average

South Africa’s job market has seen shifts in salaries, with recent data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) revealing that the average salary in the formal, non-agricultural sector now stands at R28,231 per month in Q4 2024. However, some professions significantly exceed this figure, offering workers higher financial security.

This article explores 56 high-paying jobs in South Africa that pay more than the national average, with top earners working in industries such as electricity, finance, and technology.

Top-Paying Jobs in South Africa

Stats SA’s Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) outlines salaries across various industries. The highest-paying job belongs to electricity, gas, steam, and water supply workers, earning an average of R75,515 per month. Other well-paying professions include finance, air transport, and manufacturing sectors.

Below is the full list of 56 jobs that offer salaries above R28,300 per month:

#	Job	Sector	Average Earnings (R)
1	Electricity, gas, steam and water supply	Electricity	R75,515
2	Activities auxiliary to financial intermediation	Business Services	R73,870
3	Computer and related activities	Business Services	R59,623
4	Air transport	Transport	R57,643
5	Extra Budgetary institutions	Government	R53,616
6	Financial intermediation (i.e. Banks) except insurance and pension funding	Business Services	R52,656
7	Manufacturing of coke oven products; petroleum refineries; processing of nuclear fuel	Manufacturing	R51,661
8	Manufacturing of motor vehicles	Manufacturing	R49,847
9	Architectural, engineering and other technical activities	Business Services	R49,576
10	Health and social work	Community	R49,103
11	Activities of membership organisation	Community	R46,806
12	Legal, accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities	Business Services	R46,315
13	Insurance and pension funding	Business Services	R46,131
14	Sea and coastal water transport	Transport	R44,094
15	Post and telecommunications	Transport	R43,931
16	Manufacturing of electric motors, generators and transformers	Manufacturing	R42,973
17	Collection, purification and distribution of water	Electricity	R42,698
18	Manufacturing of medical appliances and instruments, etc.	Manufacturing	R42,584
19	Research and development	Business Services	R41,457
20	Universities and technikons	Government	R40,623
21	Advertising	Business Services	R40,329
22	Real estate activities	Business Services	R39,685
23	Manufacturing of other chemical products	Manufacturing	R38,904
24	Manufacturing of basic chemicals	Manufacturing	R38,780
25	Manufacturing of railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock; aircraft and spacecraft	Manufacturing	R37,598
26	National departments	Government	R37,537
27	Manufacturing of general-purpose machinery	Manufacturing	R37,441
28	Supporting and auxiliary transport activities	Transport	R36,997
29	Manufacturing of basic precious and non-ferrous metals	Manufacturing	R36,739
30	Manufacturing of special purpose machinery	Manufacturing	R36,345
31	Manufacturing of basic iron and steel	Manufacturing	R35,789
32	Manufacturing of optical instruments and photographic equipment; watches and clocks	Manufacturing	R35,529
33	Provincial departments	Government	R35,498
34	Non-gold mining	Mining	R35,180
35	Wholesale trade	Trade	R34,969
36	Local government	Government	R33,821
37	Gold mining	Mining	R33,171
38	Manufacturing of television and radio receivers, sound or video recording etc.	Manufacturing	R32,799
39	Manufacturing of rubber products	Manufacturing	R32,240
40	Manufacturing of casting of metals	Manufacturing	R32,112
41	Manufacturing of paper and paper products	Manufacturing	R32,107
42	Manufacturing of office, accounting and computing machinery	Manufacturing	R31,734
43	Land transport and transport via pipelines	Transport	R31,564
44	Manufacturing of electronic valves and tubes and other electronic components, etc.	Manufacturing	R31,208
45	Other educational institutions	Community	R31,059
46	Manufacturing of parts and accessories for motor vehicles and their engines	Manufacturing	R30,591
47	Recreational, cultural and sporting activities	Community	R29,864
48	Building installation	Construction	R29,514
49	Building of complete constructions or parts thereof, civil engineering	Construction	R29,505
50	Manufacturing of other fabricated metal products; metalwork service activities	Manufacturing	R29,416
51	Manufacturing of electricity distribution and control apparatus	Manufacturing	R29,349
52	Manufacturing of insulated wire and cable	Manufacturing	R28,949
53	Manufacturing of glass and glass products	Manufacturing	R28,864
54	Manufacturing of accumulators, primary cells and primary batteries etc.	Manufacturing	R28,849
55	Manufacturing of publishing equipment	Manufacturing	R28,736
56	Site preparation	Construction	R28,302

If you’re looking for a high-paying career in South Africa, the electricity, financial, transport, and manufacturing industries offer excellent earning potential. With 56 jobs paying above R28,300 per month, many professionals have opportunities to earn well above the national average.

For those considering career growth or a salary increase, upskilling in technical, financial, or high-demand sectors could lead to significantly higher earnings.

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