A person working in Swaziland typically earns around 4,510 SZL per month. Salaries range from 1,140 SZL (lowest average) to 20,100 SZL (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Salaries in Swaziland range from 1,140 SZL per month (minimum salary) to 20,100 SZL per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
The median salary is 4,150 SZL per month, which means that half (50%) of the population are earning less than 4,150 SZL while the other half are earning more than 4,150 SZL. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of the population are earning less than 2,380 SZL while 75% of them are earning more than 2,380 SZL. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population are earning less than 11,200 SZL while 25% are earning more than 11,200 SZL.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning 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
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 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.
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 degrees levels across many jobs, 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 cerificate 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.
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Swaziland costs anywhere from 22,500 Lilangeni(s) to 67,600 Lilangeni(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you 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 into 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 your situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if you can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Swaziland earn 10% more than their female counterparts on avergae across all sectors.
Male | 4,670 SZL | |
Female | -9% | 4,270 SZL |
Employees in Swaziland are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 5% every 28 months.
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely 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.
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
Banking | 1% | |
Energy | 2% | |
Information Technology | 3% | |
Healthcare | 4% | |
Travel | 5% | |
Construction | 6% | |
Education | 7% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Swaziland for the year 2022. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Junoir Level | 3% - 5% | |
Mid-Career | 6% - 9% | |
Senior Level | 10% - 15% | |
Top Management | 15% - 20% |
The difference in increment rates is somehow justified because employers put more effort to retain more experienced staff since they are harder to acquire than less experienced ones.
69% of surveyed staff in Swaziland reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 31% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 4% to 5% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 31% | |
No Bonus | 69% |
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, 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 BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
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.
Finance | High | |
Architecture | High | |
Sales | High | |
Business Development | High | |
Marketing / Advertising | High | |
Information Technology | Moderate | |
Healthcare | Moderate | |
Insurance | Moderate | |
Customer Service | Moderate | |
Human Resources | Moderate | |
Construction | Low | |
Transport | Low | |
Hospitality | Low |
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting 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: | Example: |
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.
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.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Accounting and Finance | |
Accountant | 3,330 SZL |
Accounting Assistant | 2,630 SZL |
Accounting Manager | 6,710 SZL |
Bookkeeper | 2,160 SZL |
Chartered Accountant | 4,380 SZL |
Corporate Treasurer | 6,190 SZL |
Financial Analyst | 5,680 SZL |
Financial Manager | 9,300 SZL |
Internal Auditor | 4,310 SZL |
Administration / Reception / Secretarial | |
Administrative Assistant | 2,340 SZL |
Office Manager | 3,890 SZL |
Receptionist | 1,810 SZL |
Secretary | 2,080 SZL |
Advertising / Grapic Design / Events | |
Art Director | 4,560 SZL |
Creative Director | 4,810 SZL |
Graphic Designer | 2,890 SZL |
Photographer | 2,580 SZL |
Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense | |
Aerospace Engineer | 6,220 SZL |
Air Traffic Controller | 4,870 SZL |
Flight Attendant | 3,060 SZL |
Pilot | 7,970 SZL |
Architecture | |
Architect | 5,810 SZL |
CAD Drafter | 2,310 SZL |
Automotive | |
Mechanic | 1,790 SZL |
Service Advisor | 3,340 SZL |
Banking | |
Bank Branch Manager | 8,620 SZL |
Teller | 1,680 SZL |
Bilingual | |
Teacher | 3,680 SZL |
Translator | 4,380 SZL |
Business Planning | |
Business Analyst | 5,800 SZL |
Business Development Manager | 7,660 SZL |
Project Manager | 5,030 SZL |
Care Giving and Child Care | |
Nanny | 1,860 SZL |
Nursery Teacher | 1,690 SZL |
Construction / Building / Installation | |
Civil Engineer | 4,260 SZL |
Construction Project Manager | 7,410 SZL |
Health and Safety Officer | 2,040 SZL |
Customer Service and Call Center | |
Call Center Representative | 1,830 SZL |
Customer Service Manager | 6,410 SZL |
Customer Service Representative | 1,800 SZL |
Engineering | |
Electrical Engineer | 4,650 SZL |
Engineer | 4,540 SZL |
Mechanical Engineer | 4,220 SZL |
Executive and Management | |
Chief Executive Officer | 10,700 SZL |
Chief Financial Officer | 9,640 SZL |
General Manager | 8,310 SZL |
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering | |
Chef | 2,820 SZL |
Executive Chef | 3,310 SZL |
Hotel Manager | 8,320 SZL |
Travel Agent | 2,880 SZL |
Waiter / Waitress | 1,450 SZL |
Health and Medical | |
Dentist | 11,500 SZL |
Dietitian | 9,050 SZL |
Laboratory Technician | 3,350 SZL |
Nurse | 3,530 SZL |
Human Resources | |
Human Resources Manager | 6,710 SZL |
Human Resources Officer | 2,770 SZL |
Information Technology | |
Computer Technician | 3,710 SZL |
Database Administrator | 4,400 SZL |
Developer / Programmer | 4,610 SZL |
Information Technology Manager | 7,810 SZL |
Network Engineer | 4,070 SZL |
Law Enforcement / Security / Fire | |
Police Officer | 2,750 SZL |
Legal | |
Attorney | 8,680 SZL |
Legal Assistant | 2,360 SZL |
Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment | |
Journalist | 5,470 SZL |
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology | |
Biomedical Engineer | 3,990 SZL |
Pharmacist | 5,910 SZL |
Sales Retail and Wholesale | |
Cashier | 1,750 SZL |
Sales Manager | 8,390 SZL |
Sales Representative | 2,880 SZL |
Teaching / Education | |
Elementary School Teacher | 3,360 SZL |
Secondary School Teacher | 3,770 SZL |
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 fix 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.
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Swaziland earn 11% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 4,240 SZL | |
Public Sector | +11% | 4,690 SZL |