High paying jobs in South Africa: The sectors and roles earning above the national average
There are a number of jobs in South Africa that pay above the national average. We’re taking a look at these occupations and what the actual salary range is
Stats SA's latest quarterly employment survey (QES) shows that the average monthly salary in South Africa increased to R29,690 in the fourth quarter of the year.
This represents a 0.1% increase over the revised R29,650 recorded in the third quarter. Year-on-year gross earnings increased by R49.6 billion, or 4.8%, between December 2024 and December 2025.
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What are the high-paying jobs in South Africa?
The highest average monthly salary belongs to those working in activities auxiliary to financial intermediation, at R80,573 per month, reports BusinessTech. This is followed by electricity, gas, steam and water supply at R75,492 per month, and computer and related activities at R70,513 per month.
Air transport workers earn an average of R60,644 per month, while those in water purification and distribution take home R58,153 monthly.
Of the 91 job types covered by the survey in the formal, non-agricultural sector, 57 paid above the national average during the quarter. This is up from 43 jobs in the third quarter, indicating that the mix of roles earning above average has broadened considerably.
Which industries are among the highest paying?
Business services and electricity-related roles consistently rank among the highest paying in the country. Financial intermediation, insurance and pension funding, legal and accounting activities, and architectural and engineering services all feature prominently. Extra budgetary institutions in government pay an average of R56,836 per month, while national departments offer R41,001 and provincial departments R38,073.
What are the high-paying jobs earning over the national average per month?
A significant number of roles earn well above R31,000 per month. These include non-gold mining at R37,323, gold mining at R36,037, wholesale trade at R37,640, basic iron and steel manufacturing at R37,384, and local government positions at R35,626. Publishing, land transport, insulated wire and cable manufacturing, and glass products also feature on the list, with earnings ranging from R31,715 to R33,318 per month.
Construction roles such as building of complete constructions and civil engineering offer an average of R31,576 per month, while paper and paper products manufacturing pays R31,489 monthly.
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