South Africa
ZA desk: South Africa first; United States, United Kingdom, euro area, Australia and New Zealand alongside.
−$29 (−4.9%)
As of 2020 | 2021 PPP $ per month
| Year | Median salary |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $566 |
| 2017 | $596 |
| 2015 | $511 |
| 2014 | $533 |
| 2013 | $565 |
| 2012 | $623 |
| 2011 | $596 |
| 2010 | $597 |
| 2007 | $484 |
| 2006 | $487 |
| 2005 | $422 |
| 2004 | $373 |
| 2003 | $349 |
| 2002 | $361 |
| 2001 | $402 |
| 2000 | $365 |
Median monthly earnings of employees (ILOSTAT EAR_EMTM_SEX_CUR_NB) are the midpoint of the employee pay distribution, both sexes, in 2021 PPP dollars. Latest for South Africa: $566 in 2020.
The median is less pulled by high earners than the mean. Coverage still varies by national source. From 2000 to 2020 (16 years): latest $566 (2020), previous year $596 (2017); low $349 (2003), high $623 (2012).
Source: ILOSTAT. Licence: CC BY 4.0 (International Labour Organization) (terms).
This series is the median of the monthly earnings distribution for employees: the pay level at which half of employees earn more and half earn less. It comes from ILOSTAT indicator EAR_EMTM_SEX_CUR_NB, for both sexes, published annually and converted by the ILO to 2021 PPP dollars. Values are gross employee earnings, before income tax and social contributions, and they are not take-home pay. The median is less influenced by a few very high earners than the mean, so it often sits below the average.
Each point is a national published figure, not a Younivi estimate. Coverage, survey design and the treatment of part-time work differ between economies, so rankings are indicative rather than exact. The chart shows the years you select; the table gives the same values as numbers. Compare economies by direction and by broad level, and read the year label, because economies do not all report the same latest year. Sources revise their series, so a later rebuild can change a past reading.
South Africa appears first, with comparison economies where the producer publishes them. This desk filters the same official series as the all-countries view; it does not recalculate values.
Average and median monthly earnings come from ILOSTAT, in 2021 PPP dollars. These are gross employee earnings before tax, not take-home pay. National coverage differs.
Chart and Table show the same observations. Range buttons change only the displayed years; use Country to switch desks. Each page names its source and licence.