South Africa vs United States of America: Average hourly earnings of employees

South Africa
50.08
in 2015
United States of America
43.49
in 2025
South Africa rank
32nd
United States of America rank
34th

Average hourly earnings of employees over time

  • South Africa
  • United States of America
1020304050199420092025

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 50.08 against 43.49 in United States of America, a difference of 6.59.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.2 times United States of America's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 14 shared years of data; in 2000 it was United States of America ahead.

South Africa ranks 32nd and United States of America ranks 34th of 55 countries.

Across the 2 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 1 and United States of America in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa United States of America Difference Ahead
2000s 15.27 20.04 4.76 United States of America
2010s 41.22 24.39 16.83 South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher average hourly earnings of employees, South Africa or United States of America?
South Africa, at 50.08 against 43.49 in United States of America as of 2015.
What is the difference in average hourly earnings of employees between South Africa and United States of America?
6.59, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United States of America?
14 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2015.
How do South Africa and United States of America rank globally for average hourly earnings of employees?
South Africa ranks 32nd and United States of America ranks 34th of 55 countries.
Where does this data come from?
International Labour Organization, published as Average hourly earnings of employees (15+). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs United States of America: Average hourly earnings of employees. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/compare/average-hourly-earnings-of-employees-15/south-africa/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Average hourly earnings of employees (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
55 places, 823 data points, 1990–2026
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. The earnings of employees relate to the gross remuneration in cash and in kind paid to employees, as a rule at regular intervals, for time worked or work done together with remuneration for time not worked, such as annual vacation, other type of paid leave or holidays. Earnings exclude employers' contributions in respect of their employees paid to social security and pension schemes and also the benefits received by employees under these schemes. Earnings also exclude severance and termination pay. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.