You are about to be asked your salary expectation and you fear getting it wrong. Too high and you are cut. Too low and you are stuck. You need a range.
Why does market related tell you nothing?
Employers write market related to avoid showing a number. It keeps them flexible and lets them screen you out if you ask too much.
Same title pays differently in Butterworth vs Gqeberha, or Cathcart vs East London. Province and shifts change it.
Where can you find a real number?
You need several.
PNet Calculator/Guide: SA advert averages by title and province. Good: local, updated April. Bad: only PNet adverts.
CareerJunction Review: Averages from its portal. Good: current offers. Bad: weak for general worker and many retail.
PayScale SA: Self-reported by experience. Good: base vs total, entry vs senior. Bad: small sample for Komani, Mthatha.
Glassdoor SA: Staff-reported per company. Good: filter Shoprite, banks, hospitals. Bad: few entries small towns, old data stays.
Dept Labour NMW: Legal floor. From 1 March 2026 NMW is R30.23 per hour, about R5,240 per month on 40-hour week.
EPWP rate: R16.62 per hour from 1 March 2026. Only for Expanded Public Works Programme participants.
Agency guides – Robert Walters, Michael Page, Robert Half: Yearly guides. Good: detailed for IT, finance, legal. Bad: little data for admin, call centre, retail, general worker, security, hospitality.
How do you use each source without fooling yourself?
Check date, province, gross vs CTC.
PNet and CareerJunction: filter Eastern Cape, exact title, 0-2 vs 3-5 years. Clerk in Makhanda is not supervisor in Gqeberha.
PayScale: base vs total. Hospitality in Hogsback often low base plus tips.
Glassdoor: newest first, ignore >12 months.
Robert Walters, Michael Page, Robert Half: usually CTC with pension, medical aid, 13th cheque.
NMW and EPWP: verify gov.za. EPWP only if contract says EPWP.
What is gross, net and CTC?
Gross is before deductions. CTC is total cost: gross plus pension, medical aid, 13th cheque. R10k CTC is not R10k cash. Net is take-home after SARS (South African Revenue Service) tax, UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund) ceiling R17,712 per month max R177.12 per side in 2026.
Tax-free 2026/27 is R99,000 per year, rebate R17,820.
Always ask: Is that gross or CTC? See job interview dos and donts.
How do you build your range from five data points?
- Define title, years, province.
- Collect five: PNet, CareerJunction, PayScale, Glassdoor or live advert, NMW floor.
- Log date/type: PNet Apr 2026 R9,800 CTC EC.
- Drop outlier. Average middle three = anchor.
- Range = anchor +/-10-15%. R11k becomes R9.5k to R12.5k.
Only one advert in Komani? Use NMW R30.23 floor and check two adjacent titles in East London, like customer service consultant and inbound sales agent. Note: Only one data point – check PNet and CareerJunction. Fix CV – fix your CV for ATS.
What should you say when they ask salary expectation?
Use script. Fill placeholders before.
Script 1 – You know range: Based on research for this role and my [X and Y] years in [specific skill], I am looking at [X and Y] gross/CTC. Flexible on package.
Script 2 – You do not know range: I have not seen enough verified data for this town, so I would like your budgeted range. I am open to [single figure or narrow range] depending on hours, benefits and growth.
Script 3 – Pushed: If you need a figure, I would be comfortable with [figure within range] gross/CTC based on checks from PNet, CareerJunction, PayScale and NMW floor R30.23/hour.
Close with: Is that within budget and is that gross or CTC?
Where should you check by sector?
Retail: PNet Apr 2026, CareerJunction Apr 2026, Shoprite/Pick n Pay Gqeberha/East London. Check PNet and Glassdoor SA. See retail jobs at Shoprite and Pick n Pay.
Admin: PNet clerk/receptionist. Check CareerJunction Salary Review EC.
Call centre: CareerJunction, PNet, Glassdoor banks. Check PayScale SA.
General worker: Floor NMW R30.23/hr ~R5,240/month 40hr from 1 Mar 2026. EPWP R16.62 only if contract says EPWP. Cathcart/Komani near NMW.
Security: PSIRA (Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority) B/C near NMW plus allowance. Check CareerJunction and Glassdoor SA.
Hospitality: PNet, PayScale tips, Hogsback lodges include live-in. Check PayScale SA and Glassdoor SA.
Nursing: DPSA (Department of Public Service and Administration) scales public, Glassdoor private. SANC (South African Nursing Council) matters. Check Robert Walters Salary Guide SA 2026.
Teaching: REQV (Relative Education Qualification Value) scales. Check PayScale SA and Glassdoor SA.
IT: Robert Walters 2026, Michael Page 2026 guides. Check Robert Walters and Michael Page.
Finance: Michael Page, Robert Half Guide 2026, SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) affects junior. Check Robert Half and PNet.
What does minimum wage cover and not cover?
NMW R30.23/hour from 1 Mar 2026 about R5,240/month 40hr covers most including farm and domestic.
Does not cover volunteers, EPWP with R16.62, learners on registered learnerships under special rules.
Excludes transport or tips unless contract says so. BCEA (Basic Conditions of Employment Act), LRA (Labour Relations Act) and CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration) still apply.
If below NMW for full-time non-EPWP, ask: Is this EPWP?
What do you do when offer is below your range?
Do not accept on spot. Ask written breakdown gross vs CTC.
If 10% low: Thanks for R[amount]. Based on PNet/CareerJunction and travel Butterworth to East London, I expected closer to [figure within range]. Any flexibility?
If below NMW and not EPWP: NMW is R30.23/hour from 1 Mar 2026. Can you check?
If fixed, ask non-cash: training, transport, review. If still below floor, walk away.
Frequently asked questions
Should I put expected salary on my CV?
No, unless advert forces you. It anchors you low. If form forces, enter anchor average and note negotiable, confirm if gross/CTC.
What if I earned less before?
Past pay does not set market value. Say previous role different scale. Current checks show [X and Y]. Note s198B threshold R269,600.90/year from 1 May 2026 ~R22,466.74/month affects fixed-term rights, not price.
Can I ask for more after giving lower number?
Once, before signing, if scope grew: When I said [single figure or narrow range] I understood role as [original]. Now including [extra duties], I would like to revise to [figure within range] based on PNet and CareerJunction.
Next step
Pick one role, pull five numbers from PNet, CareerJunction, PayScale, Glassdoor and NMW, build [X and Y] range, and write script with [figure within range].