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Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering Average Salaries in South Africa 2024

How much money does a person working in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering make in South Africa?


Average Monthly Salary
21,500 ZAR
( 257,000 ZAR yearly)

LOW
7,880
ZAR
AVERAGE
21,500
ZAR
HIGH
57,900
ZAR
All salary figures displayed here are per month except when noted otherwise.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

A person working in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering in South Africa typically earns around 21,500 ZAR. Salaries range from 7,880 ZAR (lowest average) to 57,900 ZAR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).


Salary Variance

The provided figure represents the median compensation that encompasses housing, transportation, and other perks. The salaries within the Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering domain in South Africa exhibit significant discrepancies across various professions. In case you seek information about the remuneration of a specific position, please refer to the salaries listed below for respective job titles.

Salaries for specific jobs

Job TitleAverage Salary
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering
Airbnb Property Manager36,100 ZAR
All Rounder13,800 ZAR
Assistant Executive Housekeeper9,470 ZAR
Assistant Food and Beverage Controller18,300 ZAR
Assistant Food and Beverage Director40,700 ZAR
Assistant Hospitality Manager43,600 ZAR
Assistant Storekeeper8,760 ZAR
Assistant Tour Manager20,900 ZAR
Baker and Pastrycook11,500 ZAR
Bakery Manager24,800 ZAR
Bakery Superintendent16,600 ZAR
Banquet Captain12,300 ZAR
Banquet Manager17,600 ZAR
Banquet Server9,980 ZAR
Bar Attendant11,100 ZAR
Bar Manager22,400 ZAR
Bar Supervisor15,500 ZAR
Barista13,200 ZAR
Bartender13,100 ZAR
Bellman10,500 ZAR
Beverage Manager26,700 ZAR
Bistro Attendant10,900 ZAR
Buffet Chef20,300 ZAR
Buffet Host10,800 ZAR
Buffet Manager24,200 ZAR
Butcher and Slaughterer9,100 ZAR
Cafeteria Assistant11,300 ZAR
Cafeteria Manager20,700 ZAR
Cafeteria Supervisor14,100 ZAR
Cake Decorator12,500 ZAR
Casino Shift Manager38,000 ZAR
Chain Store Customer Support17,100 ZAR
Chef21,000 ZAR
Chef De Cuisine28,500 ZAR
Club Manager40,200 ZAR
Cluster Director50,600 ZAR
Cluster Revenue Manager39,700 ZAR
Cocktail Server10,500 ZAR
Coffee Shop Manager38,000 ZAR
Concierge9,670 ZAR
Confectionery Baker12,800 ZAR
Conference and Sales Coordinator18,200 ZAR
Conference Services Manager22,600 ZAR
Cook18,300 ZAR
Corporate Sous Chef30,000 ZAR
Corporate Travel Consultant29,300 ZAR
Croupier14,400 ZAR
Culinary Assistant9,330 ZAR
Culinary Associate9,340 ZAR
Culinary Tour Guide26,000 ZAR
Demi Chef19,700 ZAR
Dietary Aide20,400 ZAR
Dining Room Supervisor19,400 ZAR
Dishwasher8,690 ZAR
Duty Manager25,100 ZAR
Events Coordinator15,100 ZAR
Executive Chef24,400 ZAR
Executive Pastry Chef18,500 ZAR
Fast Food Cook17,300 ZAR
Fast Food Shift Supervisor17,500 ZAR
Fine Dining Cook30,600 ZAR
Fine Dining Restaurant Chef30,500 ZAR
Fleet Manager51,200 ZAR
Food and Beverage Manager39,500 ZAR
Food and Beverage Trend Analyst26,800 ZAR
Food Consultant32,600 ZAR
Food Photographer21,400 ZAR
Food Policy Analyst28,800 ZAR
Food Safety Auditor26,900 ZAR
Food Safety Compliance Manager31,100 ZAR
Food Safety Coordinator24,100 ZAR
Food Server9,730 ZAR
Food Service Director36,600 ZAR
Food Service Manager42,600 ZAR
Food Service Sales23,700 ZAR
Food Service Worker10,400 ZAR
Food Stylist17,400 ZAR
Food Sustainability Consultant30,800 ZAR
Front Desk Agent12,100 ZAR
Front Desk Clerk12,400 ZAR
Front Office Manager22,000 ZAR
Gastronomy Consultant24,300 ZAR
Guest Service Executive33,900 ZAR
Guest Service Representative13,000 ZAR
Head Chef 24,300 ZAR
Head Concierge16,300 ZAR
Hospitality Director61,700 ZAR
Hospitality Technology Specialist25,100 ZAR
Hostess / Host11,400 ZAR
Hotel Desk Clerk11,600 ZAR
Hotel Maid8,990 ZAR
Hotel Manager55,800 ZAR
Hotel Revenue Manager35,400 ZAR
Hotel Sales Manager44,800 ZAR
Hotel Service Supervisor31,400 ZAR
Hotel Staff10,900 ZAR
Inventory Coordinator13,100 ZAR
Kitchen Manager19,100 ZAR
Kitchen Staff10,500 ZAR
Kitchen Supervisor18,000 ZAR
Line Cook18,000 ZAR
Luggage Porter8,420 ZAR
Molecular Gastronomist30,200 ZAR
Motel Manager31,500 ZAR
Pastry Chef16,900 ZAR
Pastrycooking and Baking Assistant10,800 ZAR
Personal Chef24,100 ZAR
Production Operator17,600 ZAR
Quality, Health and Safety Coordinator18,100 ZAR
Receptionist12,500 ZAR
Regional Restaurant Manager44,500 ZAR
Restaurant Manager38,000 ZAR
Restaurant Server10,600 ZAR
Room Reservations Manager37,500 ZAR
Room Service Manager35,700 ZAR
Sous Chef23,400 ZAR
Special Events Coordinator22,800 ZAR
Supervisor of Food Services26,300 ZAR
Sustainable Catering Coordinator22,900 ZAR
Sustainable Tourism Consultant25,700 ZAR
Tour Consultant30,100 ZAR
Tour Guide18,600 ZAR
Tour Manager27,100 ZAR
Travel Agent19,800 ZAR
Travel Consultant30,700 ZAR
Virtual / Augmented Reality Tourism Specialist23,400 ZAR
Waiter / Waitress9,900 ZAR
Wedding Planner31,100 ZAR


Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering Jobs Pay Scale and Salaries in South Africa

Median and salary distribution South Africa Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering monthly
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Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

5% of people earn
27,300 ZAR or more
10% of people earn
22,400 to 27,300 ZAR
20% of people earn
11,600 ZAR or less
65% of people earn
11,600 to 22,400 ZAR
Minimum Salary
7,880 ZAR
Median
19,000 ZAR
Maximum
57,900 ZAR




Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range

All salary figures displayed here are per month except when noted otherwise.
  • Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary

    Salaries in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering in South Africa range from 7,880 ZAR (starting average salary) to 57,900 ZAR (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). To clarify, the number presented is not the legally mandated minimum wage. Rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that involved thousands of participants and professionals from across the entire country.

  • Median Salary

    The median income in the field of Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering is 19,000 ZAR, implying that half of the workforce in South Africa earns less than this figure, and the other half earns more. It represents the central value of salaries. As a rule of thumb, you would prefer to be part of the group earning above the median wage, situated on the right-hand side of the salary distribution chart.

  • Percentiles and Salary Scale

    Two values that are highly correlated with the median are the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution diagram, it is possible to determine that 25% of individuals employed in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering in South Africa earn less than 14,600 ZAR, while 75% of them earn more. Additionally, the diagram reveals that 75% of individuals earn less than 24,600 ZAR, while 25% earn more than that.

  • Pay Scale Structure

    Data was regrouped into brackets to provide a better understanding of what salaries can be expected. This approach was deemed more accurate than relying solely on the average salary, as it offers greater insights into the distribution of salaries in the field of Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering in South Africa. The analysis revealed that roughly 65% of all reported salaries fell within the range of 11,600 ZAR to 22,400 ZAR. Approximately 20% of salaries were below the 11,600 ZAR mark, while 10% ranged from 22,400 ZAR to 27,300 ZAR. Only 5% of individuals earned a gross salary of 27,300 ZAR or higher.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

Salary Comparison By Experience Level
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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage.

Generally speaking, employees in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering in South Africa having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.

Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.

As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.

Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.


Change in salary based on experience varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of many different jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark.
* Based on the average change in salary over time. Salary variations differ from person to person.


Salary Comparison By Education

How does the education level affect your salary?

Salary Comparison By Education
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Change in salary based on education varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of multiple jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.

It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income?

We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degree levels across many jobs in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering in South Africa, below are our findings.

Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.

Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.

Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.

Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.


Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?

A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in South Africa costs anywhere from 156,000 ZAR to 469,000 ZAR and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.

Employees can't expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming they already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.

Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch to a higher-paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.

The decision really depends on the situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if a person can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. Degree costs can be recovered roughly in a year or so.



Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering / South Africa

Salary comparison by gender South Africa Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering monthly
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In the field of Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering in South Africa, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 8%.

Male
22,400 ZAR
Female-7%
20,800 ZAR
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Comparison By Gender in South Africa for all Careers

Salary comparison by gender monthly South Africa
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Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering / South Africa

How much are annual salary increments in South Africa for individuals working in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering? How often do employees get salary raises?

Professionals working in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering in South Africa are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 8% every 17 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 18 months.

Annual Salary Increment Rate South Africa Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering
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The figures provided here are averages of numbers. Those figures should be taken as general guidelines. Salary increments will vary from person to person and depend on many factors, but your performance and contribution to the success of the organization remain the most important factors in determining how much and how often you will be granted a raise.

South Africa / All Professions

Annual Salary Increment Rate South Africa
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The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.

How to calculate the salary increment percentage?

The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency

The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in South Africa is 5%.

Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs

World Average Annual Salary Increment
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Salary Packages and Schemes

Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.

Bonus and Incentive Rates / Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering / South Africa

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Annual Salary Bonus Rate South Africa Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering
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75% of surveyed staff in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 25% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.

Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 1% to 3% of their annual salary.

Received Bonus
25%
No Bonus
75%

Types of Bonuses Considered

Individual Performance-Based Bonuses

The most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.

Company Performance Bonuses

Occasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.

Goal-Based Bonuses

Granted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.

Holiday / End of Year Bonuses

These types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.

Bonuses Are Not Commissions!

People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.


What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?

The main two types of jobs

Revenue GeneratorsSupporting Cast

Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business.

Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations.

Example:
A graphics designer working for a graphics designing company.

Example:
A graphic designer in the marketing department of a hospital.


Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.

Try to work for companies where your skills can generate revenue. We can't all generate revenue and that's perfectly fine.

Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level

Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.

Hourly Average Wage / Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering / South Africa


120 ZAR per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering in South Africa is 120 ZAR.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.


Hourly Wage = Annual Salary / ( 52 x 5 x 8 )

About The Hourly Pay Rate

The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.

What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?

The minimum pay rate per hour for people working in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering in South Africa is 45 ZAR. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.

Salary Comparison By City

CityAverage Salary
Bloemfontein20,800 ZAR
Cape Town25,000 ZAR
Durban23,800 ZAR
Johannesburg23,000 ZAR
Port Elizabeth21,700 ZAR
Pretoria22,500 ZAR

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in South Africa is 7% on average across all career fields.

Private Sector
30,400 ZAR
Public Sector+7%
32,400 ZAR
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide

What is considered to be a good and competitive salary in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering in South Africa?

A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 19,000 ZAR and 24,600 ZAR. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.

Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)

All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

Base / Basic Salary

The base salary for jobs in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering in South Africa ranges from 7,880 ZAR to 14,600 ZAR. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.


What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary


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