The Average Income in South Africa: A Look at the Numbers
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Until you’ve lived somewhere for a while, it isn’t easy to get a good sense of the cost of living. From our unique vantage point as Expats in Africa, we know the expense of living in South Africa is pretty high – ranging from housing to groceries. Thankfully costs are not quite as extreme as some media reports might lead you to believe. However, some expenses may not be obvious when you first move here. However, by researching and networking with others, we have collected valuable insights about this topic: The Average Income in South Africa. In this article, we explore the different incomes across various industries and highlight the top 10 highest-paying jobs where English fluency is an advantage.
What is the Average Income in South Africa?
Before we get into the details, let’s start with some general numbers. The average annual income in South Africa is about R117,148. This translates to about USD 7,000. Depending on where you live, the cost of living can be as high as USD 1,500 per month. While this is a helpful overview, it doesn’t tell us much about how these numbers break down across industries and job titles. So let’s dig a little deeper to understand these numbers better.
What is the Living Wage in South Africa?
The living wage is the money you need to earn to meet basic needs. It is different for people based on where they live, their family size, and other factors. In South Africa, the living wage is R9,744. This breaks down to USD 615 per month. Remember that this is the minimum amount you need to earn to meet basic living expenses. To achieve a middle-class lifestyle, you need to make more. If you have a family, you need to make more. If you want to save money, you need to earn more. However, many employers will pay their employees more than the bare minimum. If you work hard and feel you deserve a raise, it’s a good idea to ask for one. It never hurts to ask for more.
Highest Paying Jobs in South Africa for English Speakers
While there is no hard data on the average income for specific jobs, we can look at the average salary for different industries. This can give us a rough idea of how much money you can make in various roles. South Africa’s top industries include mining, finance, construction, and agriculture. Here’s a breakdown of the average salaries in these fields:
Mining – R117,000 per year
Finance – R106,000 per year
Construction – R111,000 per year
Agriculture – R66,000 per year.
As you can see, the average salary for a job in the finance sector is higher than for other industries. Many of the highest paying jobs for English speakers are in the finance industry.
List of Other High-Paying Jobs in South Africa
Here are some other high-paying jobs for English speakers in South Africa:
– Engineering: Engineers can make between R80,000 and R150,000 per year.
– Medicine: Doctors can make between R250,000 and R300,000 per year. – Teaching: Teachers can make between R45,000 and R75,000 per year.
– IT: Information technology professionals can make between R120,000 and R175,000 per year.
– Sales: Salespeople can make between R70,000 and R150,000 per year.
– Engineering: Engineers can make between R80,000 and R150,000 per year. – Medicine: Doctors can make between R250,000 and R300,000 per year.
– Teaching: Teachers can make between R45,000 and R75,000 per year.
– IT: Information technology professionals can make between R120,000 and R175,000 per year. – Sales: Salespeople can make between R70,000 and R150,000 per year.
Bottom line
So, what can we learn from all this data? Well, the first thing to note is that the average income in South Africa is high. This is important to remember if you are moving to South Africa. It may take a while to find a job. And you may need to settle for lower-paying work while you build your network and get your foot in the door of a better position. With that in mind, it may be helpful to break down the numbers a little further. If you’re earning between R70,000 and R140,000, you are in the middle tier of earners. If you’re making between R140,000 and R300,000, you are in the upper tier of earners. At the top tier of earners, you can expect to earn between R300,000 and R500,000.
