Median hourly earnings of employees in South Africa

South Africa: Median hourly earnings of employees was 17.31 in 2015. ▲ Rising

Latest (2015)
17.31
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
36th
of 55 countries
All-time high
17.31
in 2012
All-time low
6.99
in 2000
Years of data
14
2000–2015

Median hourly earnings of employees in South Africa, 2000–2015

0510152000200720152000: 72001: 7.52002: 7.52003: 7.82004: 8.22005: 8.72006: 102007: 112010: 15.42011: 16.52012: 17.32013: 17.32014: 17.32015: 17.3

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 17.31 for median hourly earnings of employees in 2015. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.

The figure is up 100.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, median hourly earnings of employees in South Africa peaked at 17.31 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 6.99, in 2000.

That places South Africa 36th out of 55 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Median hourly earnings of employees in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Median hourly earnings of employees (15+) in South Africa, 2000 to 2015.
Year Value Change
2000 6.99
2001 7.54 +7.9%
2002 7.5 -0.6%
2003 7.76 +3.6%
2004 8.2 +5.6%
2005 8.65 +5.5%
2006 9.99 +15.4%
2007 11.04 +10.6%
2010 15.38 +39.3%
2011 16.48 +7.1%
2012 17.31 +5.0%
2013 17.31 +0.0%
2014 17.31 +0.0%
2015 17.31 +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 8.46 6.99 11.04 8
2010s 16.85 15.38 17.31 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 33 Canada 32 compare
  2. 34 United States of America 26.8 compare
  3. 35 Egypt 23.49 compare
  4. 37 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 17.3 compare
  5. 38 Palestine, State of 15.62
  6. 39 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 15.21 compare

See the full ranking of 55 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is median hourly earnings of employees in South Africa?
Median hourly earnings of employees in South Africa was 17.31 in 2015, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest median hourly earnings of employees recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 17.31 in 2012.
What is the lowest median hourly earnings of employees recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 6.99 in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for median hourly earnings of employees?
South Africa ranks 36th out of 55 countries with data for 2015.
Is median hourly earnings of employees rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 100.0%. 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 Median hourly earnings of employees (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Median hourly earnings of employees in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/median-hourly-earnings-of-employees-15/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Median hourly earnings of employees (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
55 places, 820 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. The median is the middle value, with half of employees earning less and half earning more. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.