Average monthly earnings of public sector employees in South Africa

South Africa: Average monthly earnings of public sector employees was 11,720 in 2015. ▲ Rising

Latest (2015)
11,720
Change on year
up 6.5%
World rank
37th
of 63 countries
All-time high
12,184
in 2013
All-time low
3,701
in 2001
Years of data
14
2000–2015

Average monthly earnings of public sector employees in South Africa, 2000–2015

4.0k6.0k8.0k10.0k12.0k2000200720152000: 3.7k2001: 3.7k2002: 4.0k2003: 4.4k2004: 4.6k2005: 4.8k2006: 5.3k2007: 5.6k2010: 8.8k2011: 8.9k2012: 10.4k2013: 12.2k2014: 11.0k2015: 11.7k

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for average monthly earnings of public sector employees in South Africa is 11,720, measured in 2015.

The figure is up 6.5% on the previous year and up 142.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, average monthly earnings of public sector employees in South Africa peaked at 12,184 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 3,701, in 2001.

South Africa ranks 37th of 63 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.

Average monthly earnings of public sector employees in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Average monthly earnings of public sector employees in South Africa, 2000 to 2015.
Year Value Change
2000 3,712
2001 3,701 -0.3%
2002 4,015 +8.5%
2003 4,409 +9.8%
2004 4,639 +5.2%
2005 4,836 +4.2%
2006 5,301 +9.6%
2007 5,648 +6.5%
2010 8,832 +56.4%
2011 8,903 +0.8%
2012 10,450 +17.4%
2013 12,184 +16.6%
2014 11,006 -9.7%
2015 11,720 +6.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 4,533 3,701 5,648 8
2010s 10,516 8,832 12,184 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 34 Honduras 21,385 compare
  2. 35 Mexico 15,927 compare
  3. 36 Namibia 14,681
  4. 38 Botswana 11,399
  5. 39 Republic of Moldova 8,388 compare
  6. 40 Zambia 7,717

See the full ranking of 63 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is average monthly earnings of public sector employees in South Africa?
Average monthly earnings of public sector employees in South Africa was 11,720 in 2015, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest average monthly earnings of public sector employees recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 12,184 in 2013.
What is the lowest average monthly earnings of public sector employees recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 3,701 in 2001.
How does South Africa rank for average monthly earnings of public sector employees?
South Africa ranks 37th out of 63 countries with data for 2015.
Is average monthly earnings of public sector employees rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 142.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Average monthly earnings of public sector employees. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Average monthly earnings of public sector employees in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/average-monthly-earnings-of-public-sector-employees/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Average monthly earnings of public sector employees
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
63 places, 935 data points, 1989–2026
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.