The one government job that saw massive salary hikes this year – and 17 others

[Nat Quinn]

Salaries in South Africa have jumped significantly over the past year, beating inflation and delivering real growth for the first time in a long time.

Data published by Stats SA shows that the average nominal salary in South Africa is currently sitting at R28,220 per month. This is R2,134 more than the same time last year (R26,086) – or an increase of 8.2%.

This is much higher than inflation, which currently sits at 2.9%.

However, on top of the significant increase in the average salary, there are quite a few job categories that have seen their earnings jump even higher – including a 22%-plus increase for those working in government.

Breaking down Stats SA’s salary data contained in the Quarterly Employment Survey for the third quarter, there are at least 18 job types in South Africa that have grown even more than the average.

Topping the list are those working in provincial departments, where average earnings have jumped 22.3% to R34,801 per month, up from R28,444 per month recorded over the same period in 2023.

The manufacturing and construction sectors have also seen significant salary increases, with those manufacturing motor vehicles, dairy products and in the casting of metals also seeing big jumps.

The table below outlines the jobs that have seen average increases year on year above the 8.2% average.

#	Job Description	Sector	2023	2024	Growth
1	Provincial departments	Community: Government	R28,444	R34,801	22.3%
2	Casting of metals	Manufacturing	R25,426	R30,691	20.7%
3	Sea and coastal water transport	Transport	R37,101	R43,943	18.4%
4	Dairy products	Manufacturing	R15,193	R17,905	17.8%
5	Motor vehicles	Manufacturing	R41,097	R48,174	17.2%
6	Printing and related activities	Manufacturing	R18,766	R21,212	13.0%
7	Renting of construction/demolition equipment with operators	Construction	R19,320	R21,721	12.4%
8	Electric motors, generators and transformers	Manufacturing	R37,661	R42,251	12.2%
9	Rubber products	Manufacturing	R25,047	R27,849	11.2%
10	Footwear	Manufacturing	R11,100	R12,336	11.1%
11	Air transport	Transport	R46,997	R52,066	10.8%
12	Building completion	Construction	R17,752	R19,582	10.3%
13	Television and associated goods	Manufacturing	R27,885	R30,696	10.1%
14	Recycling n.e.c	Manufacturing	R16,143	R17,714	9.7%
15	Wearing apparel	Manufacturing	R10,899	R11,945	9.6%
16	Optical instruments, watches and clocks	Manufacturing	R31,586	R34,496	9.2%
17	Research and development	Business Services	R35,901	R39,024	8.7%
18	Manufacturing n.e.c	Manufacturing	R16,748	R18,154	8.4%

The following describes the industry segments.

• Mining includes mining and quarrying

• Manufacturing includes food and beverages, furniture, textiles, wood, printing and publishing, petroleum and chemicals, non-metals and mineral products, electrical, medical and technology-related apparatus, and transport equipment

• Electricity includes gas and water supply

• Trade includes wholesale, retail, motor, hotel and restaurants

• Transport includes freight, storage and postal communication

• Business services include financial intermediation, banking, insurance and real estate

• Community includes social and personal services, split among government and non-government entities.

source:The one government job that saw massive salary hikes this year – and 17 others – BusinessTech

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