Government adverts rarely describe a salary the way private employers do. Instead you will see something like "R…per annum (Level 07)" or "all-inclusive remuneration package (Level 13)". Once you understand the system behind these lines, you can compare posts quickly and know roughly where a job sits before you read the duties.
The salary level system
Most posts in the South African public service are graded on a scale of salary levels from 1 to 16. Each post is evaluated and placed on a level according to the weight of its responsibilities, and the level determines the pay range.
As a rough guide to how the levels are used:
- Levels 1 to 4 — elementary and entry-level posts such as general workers, cleaners, drivers, messengers and some entry clerical posts.
- Levels 5 to 8 — clerical, administrative and technical posts, from clerks and senior clerks to supervisors and practitioners.
- Levels 9 to 12 — professionals and middle managers, such as assistant directors (often levels 9 and 10) and deputy directors (often levels 11 and 12).
- Levels 13 to 16 — the Senior Management Service (SMS): directors (13), chief directors (14), deputy directors-general (15) and heads of department (16).
These are typical patterns, not fixed rules: always look at the level stated in the specific advert.
Notches: pay within a level
Each salary level is a range made up of steps called notches. A new appointee usually starts on the first notch of the level advertised. Over time, pay can progress to higher notches within the level — for example through performance-related pay progression — and the whole scale is adjusted by annual cost-of-living increases negotiated for the public service.
When an advert gives a single figure, that is usually the entry notch. When it gives a range, it shows the bottom and top of the level or of the notches the department is willing to offer.
Basic salary versus all-inclusive packages
For most posts below the SMS, the advertised amount is the basic salary. On top of it, qualifying employees receive benefits such as membership of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), a medical aid subsidy if they join the Government Employees Medical Scheme or another accredited scheme, a housing allowance, and an annual service bonus (often called the "13th cheque").
Senior managers, and some other posts, are offered an all-inclusive remuneration package. Here the advertised amount already includes the employer's pension contribution and other benefits, and part of it can be structured according to the employee's needs. That is why an all-inclusive package looks larger than a basic salary at a similar level of responsibility — the two numbers are not directly comparable.
Occupation-specific dispensations (OSDs)
Some professions have their own salary structures, known as occupation-specific dispensations. Nurses, educators, doctors, engineers, legal professionals, social workers and several other groups are paid on OSD scales, which are tied to qualifications, registration and years of experience in that profession rather than to the general levels.
If an advert mentions an OSD or describes the post with a "grade" (for example "Professional Nurse Grade 1"), the salary follows that occupation's own scale. Your recognised experience can affect which grade you are appointed on, so keep records of previous service and professional registration.
How to use salary levels when job hunting
- Compare like with like. A level 7 post in one department is broadly comparable to a level 7 post in another.
- Plan your next step. Moving up one or two levels at a time is common. Looking at the requirements of the next level up shows you what qualifications or experience to work towards.
- Read the requirements, not just the pay. Higher levels usually require specific qualifications and years of experience at a lower level.
- Check the deductions. Your take-home pay will be lower than the advertised amount once tax and contributions are deducted. Our guide to reading your payslip explains the usual deductions.
Where to find the official figures
Salary scales are revised regularly. For the current figures, rely on the amounts printed in the advert itself and on official DPSA publications rather than on numbers circulating on social media, which are often out of date.