{"id":10226,"date":"2025-06-18T14:26:40","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T12:26:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=10226"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:29:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T08:29:30","slug":"high-paying-jobs-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/high-paying-jobs-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"56 High-Paying Jobs in South Africa That Exceed the Average Salary of R28,300"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-discover-the-56-top-paying-jobs-in-south-africa-s-formal-sector-that-outpace-the-national-average-salary-based-on-the-latest-stats-sa-employment-data\"><em>Discover the 56 top-paying jobs in South Africa\u2019s formal sector that outpace the national average salary, based on the latest Stats SA employment data.<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-south-africa-s-salaries-in-focus\">South Africa&#8217;s Salaries in Focus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High-Paying Jobs in SA:<\/strong> According to <a href=\"https:\/\/gauteng.news\/2024\/12\/04\/limpopo-creates-public-sector-jobs-mec-rachoene\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stats SA\u2019s Quarterly Employment Survey (QES)<\/a> for the fourth quarter of 2024, the average monthly salary in South Africa\u2019s formal non-agricultural sector stood at R28,231. Encouragingly, 56 jobs tracked by Stats SA now pay above this threshold, reflecting an uptick in earnings and real salary growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s break down these 56 high-paying jobs \u2014 ranked by their average monthly earnings \u2014 and what sectors they belong to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2521978980\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-full-list-56-jobs-paying-more-than-r28-300-month\">The Full List: 56 Jobs Paying More Than R28,300\/month<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>#<\/th><th>Job Title<\/th><th>Sector<\/th><th>Average Monthly Earnings (R)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1<\/td><td>Electricity, gas, steam and water supply<\/td><td>Electricity<\/td><td><strong>R75,515<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td>Activities auxiliary to financial intermediation<\/td><td>Business Services<\/td><td><strong>R73,870<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3<\/td><td>Computer and related activities<\/td><td>Business Services<\/td><td><strong>R59,623<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4<\/td><td>Air transport<\/td><td>Transport<\/td><td><strong>R57,643<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5<\/td><td>Extra Budgetary institutions<\/td><td>Government<\/td><td><strong>R53,616<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6<\/td><td>Financial intermediation (excluding insurance and pensions)<\/td><td>Business Services<\/td><td><strong>R52,656<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7<\/td><td>Petroleum refineries, coke ovens, nuclear fuel<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R51,661<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8<\/td><td>Motor vehicle manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R49,847<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>9<\/td><td>Architecture, engineering &amp; technical services<\/td><td>Business Services<\/td><td><strong>R49,576<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10<\/td><td>Health and social work<\/td><td>Community<\/td><td><strong>R49,103<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>11<\/td><td>Membership organisations<\/td><td>Community<\/td><td><strong>R46,806<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>12<\/td><td>Legal, accounting, auditing &amp; bookkeeping<\/td><td>Business Services<\/td><td><strong>R46,315<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>13<\/td><td>Insurance and pension funding<\/td><td>Business Services<\/td><td><strong>R46,131<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>14<\/td><td>Sea and coastal water transport<\/td><td>Transport<\/td><td><strong>R44,094<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>15<\/td><td>Post and telecommunications<\/td><td>Transport<\/td><td><strong>R43,931<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>16<\/td><td>Electric motor and generator manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R42,973<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>17<\/td><td>Water collection, purification &amp; distribution<\/td><td>Electricity<\/td><td><strong>R42,698<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>18<\/td><td>Medical appliances and instrument manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R42,584<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>19<\/td><td>Research and development<\/td><td>Business Services<\/td><td><strong>R41,457<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>20<\/td><td>Universities and technikons<\/td><td>Government<\/td><td><strong>R40,623<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>21<\/td><td>Advertising<\/td><td>Business Services<\/td><td><strong>R40,329<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>22<\/td><td>Real estate activities<\/td><td>Business Services<\/td><td><strong>R39,685<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>23<\/td><td>Other chemical product manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R38,904<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>24<\/td><td>Basic chemicals manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R38,780<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>25<\/td><td>Aircraft and railway equipment manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R37,598<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>26<\/td><td>National departments<\/td><td>Government<\/td><td><strong>R37,537<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>27<\/td><td>General-purpose machinery manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R37,441<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>28<\/td><td>Supporting transport services<\/td><td>Transport<\/td><td><strong>R36,997<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>29<\/td><td>Basic precious &amp; non-ferrous metals manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R36,739<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>30<\/td><td>Special-purpose machinery manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R36,345<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>31<\/td><td>Basic iron and steel manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R35,789<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>32<\/td><td>Optical instruments &amp; watches manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R35,529<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>33<\/td><td>Provincial departments<\/td><td>Government<\/td><td><strong>R35,498<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>34<\/td><td>Non-gold mining<\/td><td>Mining<\/td><td><strong>R35,180<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>35<\/td><td>Wholesale trade<\/td><td>Trade<\/td><td><strong>R34,969<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>36<\/td><td>Local government<\/td><td>Government<\/td><td><strong>R33,821<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>37<\/td><td>Gold mining<\/td><td>Mining<\/td><td><strong>R33,171<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>38<\/td><td>TV and audio electronics manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R32,799<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>39<\/td><td>Rubber product manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R32,240<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>40<\/td><td>Metal casting manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R32,112<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>41<\/td><td>Paper and paper product manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R32,107<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>42<\/td><td>Office &amp; computing machinery manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R31,734<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>43<\/td><td>Land transport and pipelines<\/td><td>Transport<\/td><td><strong>R31,564<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>44<\/td><td>Electronics &amp; semiconductor component manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R31,208<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>45<\/td><td>Other educational institutions<\/td><td>Community<\/td><td><strong>R31,059<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>46<\/td><td>Auto parts and engine components manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R30,591<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>47<\/td><td>Recreation, culture, and sports activities<\/td><td>Community<\/td><td><strong>R29,864<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>48<\/td><td>Building installation<\/td><td>Construction<\/td><td><strong>R29,514<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>49<\/td><td>Civil engineering &amp; construction<\/td><td>Construction<\/td><td><strong>R29,505<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>50<\/td><td>Fabricated metal product manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R29,416<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>51<\/td><td>Electricity distribution apparatus manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R29,349<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>52<\/td><td>Insulated wire and cable manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R28,949<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>53<\/td><td>Glass product manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R28,864<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>54<\/td><td>Battery &amp; accumulator manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R28,849<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>55<\/td><td>Publishing equipment manufacturing<\/td><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td><strong>R28,736<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>56<\/td><td>Site preparation (construction)<\/td><td>Construction<\/td><td><strong>R28,302<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-this-means-for-workers\">What This Means for Workers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>These high-paying jobs paint a picture of a formal sector where technical skill, sector-specific knowledge, and government employment yield some of the most competitive salaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you&#8217;re entering the job market or considering a career shift, roles in energy, finance, engineering, tech, and public administration are where the earnings potential lies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RELATED: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gauteng.news\/2025\/06\/12\/gauteng-ancyl-slams-lesufi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gauteng ANCYL Slams Lesufi: Claims of \u2018Abusive Relationship\u2019 and Youth Exclusion<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"699\" src=\"https:\/\/media.gauteng.net\/2025\/06\/56-high-paying-jobs-in-south-africa-that-exceed-the-average-salary-of-r28300-1750249200-1024x699.webp\" alt=\"56 High-Paying Jobs in South Africa That Exceed the Average Salary of R28,300\" class=\"wp-image-10267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/56-high-paying-jobs-in-south-africa-that-exceed-the-average-salary-of-r28300-1750249200-1024x699.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/56-high-paying-jobs-in-south-africa-that-exceed-the-average-salary-of-r28300-1750249200-300x205.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/56-high-paying-jobs-in-south-africa-that-exceed-the-average-salary-of-r28300-1750249200-768x524.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/56-high-paying-jobs-in-south-africa-that-exceed-the-average-salary-of-r28300-1750249200-220x150.webp 220w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/56-high-paying-jobs-in-south-africa-that-exceed-the-average-salary-of-r28300-1750249200.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">StatsSA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3744219771\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-summary-stats\">Summary Stats:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Average salary (Q4 2024):<\/strong> R28,231<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Highest paying job:<\/strong> Electricity, gas, steam and water supply \u2013 R75,515\/month<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lowest paying job (not listed above):<\/strong> Hotels and restaurants \u2013 R11,703\/month<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Best-paying sectors overall:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Electricity, Gas &amp; Water: R55,359<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Community &amp; Government: R34,402<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mining: R34,333<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While many workers still face economic pressure, formal sector salaries are showing real growth, and more roles than ever are outpacing the national average. If you&#8217;re looking for a secure and rewarding future, the numbers suggest looking toward sectors where expertise meets demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/your-first-step-finding-jobs\/\">Your First Step: Finding Jobs in Gauteng for New Job Seekers<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>56 High-Paying Jobs in South Africa That Exceed the Average Salary of R28,300<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":10268,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"56 High-Paying Jobs in South Africa That Exceed the Average Salary of R28,300","footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-10226","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-jobs"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10226"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10226\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10274,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10226\/revisions\/10274"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}