The economist made a list of the top 20 non-financial sector with the highest average salaries in 2016

Compared to many other countries, South Africa doesn’t have a national minimum wage. Research from the School of Economic and Business Sciences (SEBS) at the University of Witwatersrand has shown that there are as many as 2.36 million workers in South Africa who are excluded from minimum wage coverage.

The implementation of a minimum wage could protect vulnerable workers, but simply increasing wages will not create extra jobs, on the contrary. It will also not counter the root effects of poverty, namely critically low employment options, low productivity and poor education. Some sectors however, do have their own minimum wage and some of those have a very high minimum wage that is many times higher than any proposed minimum wage.

The economist made a list of the top 20 non-financial sector with the highest average salaries in 2016:

1. Petroleum refineries and processing of nuclear fuel
Average monthly salary: R44 120
% above formal sector average: 136%

2. Air transport
Average monthly salary: R42 0242

% above formal sector average: 125%

3. Electricity and utilities
Average monthly salary: R39 984
% above formal sector average: 114%

4. Computer and related services
Average monthly salary: R37 216
% above formal sector average: 99%

5. Architectural, engineering and other technical activities
Average monthly salary: R34 772
% above formal sector average: 86%

6. Research and development
Average monthly salary: R31 265
% above formal sector average: 67%

7. Legal, accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities
Average monthly salary: R30 735
% above formal sector average: 65%

8. Post and telecommunications
Average monthly salary: R28 487
% above formal sector average: 53%

9. Motor vehicle manufacture
Average monthly salary: R28 487
% above formal sector average: 50%

10. Medical instrument manufacture
Average monthly salary: R27 577
% above formal sector average: 48%

11. Basic precious and non-ferrous metals manufacture
Average monthly salary: R26 275
% above formal sector average: 41%

12. Other educational institutions
Average monthly salary: R24 634
% above formal sector average: 32%

13. Extra budgetary institutions e.g. SETAs, UIF, etc.
Average monthly salary: R24 466
% above formal sector average: 31%

14. Collection, purification and distribution of water

Average monthly salary: R24253
% above formal sector average: 30%

15. Basic chemical manufacturing
Average monthly salary: R24 203
% above formal sector average: 30%

16. National government departments
Average monthly salary: R24 159
% above formal sector average: 29%

17. Advertising industry
Average monthly salary: R24 123
% above formal sector average: 29%

18. Freight forwarding; broking and travel agencies
Average monthly salary: R24 056
% above formal sector average: 29%

19. Special purpose machinery manufacture
Average monthly salary: R23 447
% above formal sector average: 26%

20. Real estate agents and brokers
Average monthly salary: R23 301
% above formal sector average: 25%

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