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What South Africans Are Really Earning in 2025: A Fresh Look at Salaries Across Job Sectors

Published

2 months ago

July 16, 2025

Chiraag

South African salaries 2025, average earnings per industry, job market trends, salary guide South Africa, job role salary comparison, employment stats 2025, cost of living salary, Joburg ETC

From Paychecks to Professions: What South Africans Are Earning in 2025

As South Africans continue to hustle through rising living costs, load shedding curveballs, and economic uncertainty, the question on everyone’s mind is simple: am I getting paid what I’m worth in 2025? Thanks to Pnet’s latest salary report, we finally have some answers, and they’re equal parts revealing and concerning.

Also read: Lawyers Are Cashing In: What Legal Minds Earn in South Africa in 2025

The State of the Job Market: Better, But Not Booming

Let’s start with the hiring landscape. Pnet’s data, drawn from thousands of online job postings nationwide, shows that hiring activity has grown modestly year-on-year. December 2024 saw a 1% rise in job activity compared to the same time in 2023. More encouragingly, month-on-month hiring ticked up by 6% from November to December, a good sign for job seekers hoping for new beginnings in the new year.

But zoom out a bit, and things look less sunny. Compared to December 2022, job activity is still 7% lower, hinting that the market hasn’t fully bounced back to pre-crisis levels.

The Hottest Jobs Right Now

Pnet flagged a few roles that are currently in high demand. If you’re in any of these fields, you might be sitting in a sweet spot:

Pharmacists (Medical & Health)
Warehouse Operations (Warehousing & Logistics)
Recruitment Professionals
Executive Management
Business Development Consultants

What People Are Actually Taking Home

Let’s get to the good stuff, the money. Pnet’s 2025 salary guide dives into over 100 job roles across 11 major sectors, revealing national average pay ranges based on real listings.

Here’s a quick snapshot of some notable brackets:

Admin & Office Support

Receptionist: R10 000 to R13 700
Personal Assistant: R23 500 to R33 000
HR Consultant: R31 500 to R44 500

Construction & Engineering

Civil Engineer: R51 900 to R68 100
Electrician: R25 000 to R36 000
Site Supervisor: R15 000 to R21 400

Finance

Bookkeeper: R18 000 to R24 100
Financial Analyst: R40 000 to R54 000
Investment Manager: R45 000 to R66 700

Sales & Marketing

Retail Associate: R15 000 to R19 200
Brand Manager: R36 500 to R51 200
Social Media Content Creator: R11 100 to R14 000

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Information Technology

Full Stack Developer: R33 900 to R46 700
Data Scientist: R46 600 to R56 700
Scrum Master: R35 600 to R54 600

Logistics & Warehousing

Logistics Coordinator: R21 100 to R28 500
Fleet Controller: R17 700 to R22 100
Warehouse Supervisor: R18 600 to R23 900

Business & Management

Executive Manager: R100 000 to R131 400
Team Leader: R24 000 to R34 800
Strategy Consultant: R27 000 to R42 600

Across sectors, location, seniority, and specialised skills still heavily influence pay. An experienced IT developer in Joburg could earn significantly more than someone with the same title in a smaller town.

South Africans React: “Still Not Enough”

Local conversations online suggest that while the numbers provide clarity, they don’t reflect many people’s lived realities.

“If this is the average, then most of us are way below the bar,” one user commented on Twitter (X).

Others questioned whether listed salaries account for inflation and skyrocketing household costs. With fuel, rent, and food prices continuing to climb in 2025, it’s no surprise that even mid-range salaries feel stretched thin.

Why This Data Matters

Pnet’s salary data isn’t just useful for job hunters; it’s a critical negotiation tool for those already employed. Whether you’re pushing for a raise, changing careers, or exploring freelancing rates, having an informed benchmark helps level the playing field.

It also sheds light on where South Africa’s economy is leaning. The demand for logistics, IT, and healthcare professionals points to how digitisation, infrastructure shifts, and post-COVID health concerns continue to shape the workforce.

What It All Means

If you’re earning below the national average for your field, you’re not alone, but now you’re also not in the dark. The 2025 salary guide provides a rare moment of transparency in a landscape where many are still guessing or underpaid.

Use it. Challenge your worth. And don’t be afraid to ask the hard question: “What should I really be earning right now?”