Average Human Resources Assistant Salary in South Africa for 2024

In this article, we will look at the average Human Resources Assistant salary for 2024 in South Africa and how that compares to other countries and professions. We'll also look at interesting salary data points like median salary, 25th and 75th percentile salaries, salary amounts based on experience, bonus ranges and more!

The data in this article has been compiled using official government salary data, salary surveys, and other sources such as job postings which contain salary information.

All salary information is in the local currency, which is the South African rand. To keep things simple, we are using the ZAR currency code instead of the currency symbol R.

How Much Does a Human Resources Assistant Make in South Africa?

A Human Resources Assistant working in South Africa will typically earn around 172,200 ZAR per year, and this can range from the lowest average salary of about 84,040 ZAR to the highest average salary of 266,000 ZAR.

Average Annual Salary
172,200 ZAR
Average Monthly Salary
14,350 ZAR

Lowest Annual Salary
84,040 ZAR
Lowest Monthly Salary
7,003 ZAR

Highest Annual Salary
266,000 ZAR
Highest Monthly Salary
22,166 ZAR

These are average salaries for a Human Resources Assistant in South Africa and include benefits such as housing and transport. It's also possible for a Human Resources Assistant to earn more or less than the average salaries shown above.

Human Resources Assistant salaries will vary a lot based on your experience, location, skills, and gender. Keep reading below to research more data on each of these areas.

Distribution of Human Resources Assistant Salaries in South Africa

So we've looked at the average salaries a Human Resources Assistant will earn in South Africa. The next interesting data point is the distribution of salaries.

Salary ranges

We already know that a Human Resources Assistant can earn between 84,040 ZAR and 266,000 ZAR on average in South Africa. This is known as the range in statistics.

The difference between the maximum and minimum values is a good indicator of variability in salaries, and can be used by employers to figure out how much they can expect to pay, and for employees to know how much they can earn.

Median salary

The median salary for a Human Resources Assistant in South Africa is 172,200 ZAR. This is the middle value in the distribution of salaries.

What this means is that approximately 50% of the population earn less than 172,200 ZAR, and 50% of the population earn more than 172,200 ZAR.

If you are earning more than the median salary, that's a good indicator that you are being paid well.

If you're not earning more than the median salary, your objective should be to increase your earnings to be at least as high as the median salary (which you can do by asking for a pay rise, looking for a better paying job, etc).

Percentiles

Percentiles are similar to the median salary, but instead of looking at the middle value, they look at the values in the top and bottom half of the distribution.

For the average Human Resources Assistant salary in South Africa, 25% of the population are earning less than 117,520 ZAR while 75% of the population earn more than 117,520 ZAR.

75% of the population earn less than 225,700 ZAR, and 25% of the population earn more than 225,700 ZAR.

Like the median salary, the 25th and 75th percentile salaries can be used to determine which quartile you fall into so that you know whether you are being paid well enough compared to others in your profession and location.

The difference between a median and an average salary

The median and average salary are both indicators you can use to see if you are being paid fairly based on the overall population.

  • If your salary is higher than the average and the median salary, you are earning well compared to others.
  • If your salary is lower than the average and the median salary, it could indicate you are not being paid well enough.
  • If you are somewhere in between then it's tricky to determine if you are being paid well enough and you might need to research more closely.

Human Resources Assistant Salary by Experience Level in South Africa

The most important factor in determining your salary after the specific profession is the number of years experience you have. It stands to reason that more years of experience will result in a higher wage.

We have researched the average human resources assistant salary based on years of experience to give you an idea of how the average changes once you've worked for a certain amount of time.

  • 0 - 2 Years Experience. A Human Resources Assistant in South Africa that has less than two years of experience can expect to earn somewhere in the region of 101,020 ZAR.
  • 2 - 5 Years Experience. With two to five years of experience the average Human Resources Assistant salary would increase to 125,700 ZAR.
  • 5 - 10 Years Experience. From five to ten years of experience as a Human Resources Assistant, the average salary would be 174,000 ZAR.
  • 10 - 15 Years Experience. Once you have more than ten years of experience the average salary reaches around 216,800 ZAR.
  • 15 - 20 Years Experience. A Human Resources Assistant with 15 to 20 years of experience can earn an average of 232,400 ZAR.
  • 20+ Years Experience. For a Human Resources Assistant with more than 20 years, the expected average salary increases to 247,800 ZAR.

Average Salary by Experience Chart

0-2 Years
101,020 ZAR
2-5 Years +29%
125,700 ZAR
5-10 Years +38%
174,000 ZAR
10-15 Years +24%
216,800 ZAR
15-20 Years +7%
232,400 ZAR
20+ Years +7%
247,800 ZAR

Human Resources Assistant Salary by Education Level in South Africa

As well as experience in a job, your education plays a big role in how much you can earn. A lot of higher paying positions require a high level of education, but how much can a degree increase your salary?

In our research we have compared the salaries of employees in the same job and career level with different levels of education to see how much more you can earn at each education level.

The salary you can earn based on your education is very specific to both your location and the career path you choose.

In our research, we looked at the average salary for a Human Resources Assistant in South Africa based on the education level of the employees in order to find out whether a better education level would increase your salary.

  • Certificate or Diploma. A Human Resources Assistant in South Africa with a certificate or diploma education can earn an average salary of 138,800 ZAR.

  • Bachelor's Degree. A Human Resources Assistant in South Africa with a bachelor's degree education can earn an average salary of 214,000 ZAR.

Average Salary by Education Chart

Certificate or Diploma
138,800 ZAR
Bachelor's Degree +53%
214,000 ZAR

How Much is a Master's Degree or MBA Program?

The approximate cost of a master's degree or post-graduate program like an MBA in South Africa is around 156,000 to 467,000 ZAR and takes two years to complete.

As you can see above, there are financial benefits from reaching master's degree level, but don't expect to see much of a salary increase until you have completed the degree.

It's common for people to pursue an MBA or other post-graduate program in order to switch to a a job that pays more. On average, you can expect to earn around 10% more when switching to a new company.

Whether you decide to pursue a master's degree depends on many factors. If you are able to afford it, the numbers suggest that the return on investment is worth it and you could recover the costs in a few years from the salary increase you would receive.

Human Resources Assistant Salary Compared by Gender

In the modern age, we know that there should never be a pay gap between men and women. Unfortunately, in many professions, there is still a significant difference between the salaries earned by men when compared to the salary of women in the same job.

In South Africa, a male human resources assistant will earn an average of 176,800 ZAR, while a female human resources assistant will earn around 161,600 ZAR.

This means that a male human resources assistant earns approximately 9% more than a female human resources assistant for performing the same job.

Average Salary by Gender Chart in South Africa

Male
176,800 ZAR
Female -9%
161,600 ZAR

Human Resources Assistant Average Pay Raise in South Africa

In many countries, an annual pay raise is often given to employees to reward their service with a salary increase.

From our research, we can see that the average pay raise for a Human Resources Assistant in South Africa is around 10% every 18 months.

The national average pay raise across all professions and industries in South Africa is around 8% every 18 months.

In this case, we can see that the number of months between the average pay raise is higher than the typical 12 months.

To make the data more meaningful, we can calculate what the approximate annual pay raise would be using a simple formula:

Annual Increase = ( Increase Rate ÷ Months ) × 12

So for this example, it would be:

Annual Increase = ( 10 ÷ 18 ) × 12  = 7%

What this means is that a Human Resources Assistant in South Africa can expect to receive an average pay raise of around 7% every 12 months.

Annual Pay Raise by Industry in South Africa for 2024

In the chart below, you can see the average annual pay raise percentages for each of the major industries in South Africa.

You will see that companies in bigger and more lucrative industries tend to have the higher annual pay raises.

Banking
3%
Energy
6%
Information Technology
9%
Healthcare
3%
Travel
6%
Construction
9%
Education
3%

Human Resources Assistant Bonus and Incentive Rates in South Africa

Another part of your overall compensation in a job is how much bonus you receive. Some job roles will be more likely to pay a bonus than others and also more likely to have higher bonus rates.

Generally speaking, jobs that are more involved with direct revenue generation will receive higher bonuses based on the performance towards revenue goals.

A Human Resources Assistant is a moderate bonus based job, with 54% of employees reporting at least one bonus in the last 12 months.

46% reported that they had not received any bonuses in the previous 12 months.

For the employees that did receive a bonus in the previous 12 months, the reported bonuses ranged from 3% to 6%.

Received Bonus
54%
No Bonus
46%

What are the Types of Bonus?

There are a number of difference types of bonus you can receive in a job. Including:

  • Individual performance bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to an individual employee for general performance in the job. It's the most common type of bonus.
  • Company performance bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to a company employees to share profit with the staff.
  • Goal based bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to an individual employee (or a team) for achieving specific goals, objectives, or milestones.
  • Holiday bonus - This type of bonus is usually paid around the holidays, often the end of the year, and is a token of appreciation for the hard work throughout the year.

Government vs Private Sector Salaries

Another commonly asked question is whether you get paid a higher salary working in the public (government) sector or the private sector.

Public sector employees in South Africa earn approximately 7% more than private sector employees in the same role.

Public Sector
386,400 ZAR
Private Sector -7%
361,500 ZAR

Salaries for Jobs Similar to a Human Resources Assistant

In the table below, we have salary information for jobs that are similar to a Human Resources Assistant in South Africa.

Job Title Category Salary
Benefits Administrator Human Resources 246,500 ZAR
Benefits Analyst Human Resources 296,000 ZAR
Benefits Manager Human Resources 502,200 ZAR
Benefits Specialist Human Resources 286,400 ZAR
Chief Human Resources Officer Human Resources 653,200 ZAR
Chief People Officer Human Resources 663,200 ZAR
Compensation Analyst Human Resources 296,000 ZAR
Compensation and Benefits Manager Human Resources 516,100 ZAR
Compensation and Benefits Officer Human Resources 207,800 ZAR
Compensation and Benefits Specialist Human Resources 286,400 ZAR
Compensation Manager Human Resources 502,200 ZAR
Corporate Director of Human Resources Human Resources 641,900 ZAR
Corporate Recruiter Human Resources 428,400 ZAR
Corporate Trainer Human Resources 307,400 ZAR
Director of Talent Acquisition Human Resources 625,000 ZAR
Employee Benefits Administrator Human Resources 349,300 ZAR
Employee Benefits Consultant Human Resources 460,500 ZAR
Employee Benefits Coordinator Human Resources 181,600 ZAR
Employee Communications Manager Human Resources 431,300 ZAR
Employee Development Specialist Human Resources 415,900 ZAR
Employee Engagement Specialist Human Resources 401,300 ZAR
Employee Health and Wellness Administrator Human Resources 369,900 ZAR
Employee Performance Specialist Human Resources 308,300 ZAR
Employee Relations Analyst Human Resources 394,500 ZAR
Employee Relations Manager Human Resources 433,800 ZAR
Employee Relations Practitioner Human Resources 451,000 ZAR
Employee Relations Representative Human Resources 311,700 ZAR
Employee Relations Specialist Human Resources 394,500 ZAR
Employee Services Manager Human Resources 433,800 ZAR
Employee Services Specialist Human Resources 397,900 ZAR
Employee Wellness Officer Human Resources 301,600 ZAR
Employment Advice Worker Human Resources 192,600 ZAR
Employment Interviewer Human Resources 290,800 ZAR
Employment Relations Officer Human Resources 192,000 ZAR
Employment Service Specialist Human Resources 239,000 ZAR
Employment Services Coordinator Human Resources 283,400 ZAR
Enrollment Counselor Human Resources 383,300 ZAR
Equal Opportunity Representative Human Resources 305,600 ZAR
Executive Human Capital Management Human Resources 615,300 ZAR
Executive Recruiter Human Resources 425,100 ZAR
Expatriate Administration Manager Human Resources 426,700 ZAR
Expatriate Administration Supervisor Human Resources 292,000 ZAR
Global Mobility Manager Human Resources 514,800 ZAR
Head of Human Resources Human Resources 582,700 ZAR
Headhunter Human Resources 436,200 ZAR
Health Benefits Coordinator Human Resources 251,500 ZAR
HRIS Analyst Human Resources 209,500 ZAR
HRIS Manager Human Resources 369,300 ZAR
HRIS Officer Human Resources 194,600 ZAR
HRIS Supervisor Human Resources 212,500 ZAR
Human Resources Administration Specialist Human Resources 253,400 ZAR
Human Resources Administrative Assistant Human Resources 176,800 ZAR
Human Resources Administrative Coordinator Human Resources 263,200 ZAR
Human Resources Administrator Human Resources 265,000 ZAR
Human Resources Advisor Human Resources 411,400 ZAR
Human Resources Analyst Human Resources 366,200 ZAR
Human Resources Assessor Human Resources 222,300 ZAR
Human Resources Assistant Manager Human Resources 467,100 ZAR
Human Resources Associate Human Resources 159,400 ZAR
Human Resources Consultant Human Resources 500,100 ZAR
Human Resources Coordinator Human Resources 189,300 ZAR
Human Resources Data Analytics Manager Human Resources 345,100 ZAR
Human Resources Deputy Manager Human Resources 489,500 ZAR
Human Resources Development Manager Human Resources 573,500 ZAR
Human Resources Director Human Resources 641,900 ZAR
Human Resources Executive Human Resources 447,300 ZAR
Human Resources Generalist Human Resources 301,600 ZAR
Human Resources Manager Human Resources 585,900 ZAR
Human Resources Officer Human Resources 233,900 ZAR
Human Resources Recruiter Human Resources 448,500 ZAR
Human Resources Representative Human Resources 249,600 ZAR
Human Resources Section Head Human Resources 383,300 ZAR
Human Resources Services Manager Human Resources 529,600 ZAR
Human Resources Specialist Human Resources 330,900 ZAR
Human Resources Superintendent Human Resources 233,600 ZAR
Human Resources Training Executive Human Resources 447,300 ZAR
Human Resources Vice President Human Resources 592,600 ZAR
Industrial Organizational Psychologist Human Resources 514,300 ZAR
Job Evaluation Specialist Human Resources 417,100 ZAR
Labor Relations Director Human Resources 489,500 ZAR
Labor Relations Manager Human Resources 489,500 ZAR
Labor Relations Specialist Human Resources 232,900 ZAR
Learning and Development Manager Human Resources 507,300 ZAR
Occupational Health and Safety Officer Human Resources 228,500 ZAR
Organizational Development Consultant Human Resources 478,000 ZAR
Organizational Development Manager Human Resources 528,600 ZAR
Organizational Development Specialist Human Resources 279,400 ZAR
Payroll Assistant Human Resources 204,700 ZAR
Payroll Supervisor Human Resources 246,500 ZAR
People Development Officer Human Resources 296,000 ZAR
Personnel Officer Human Resources 167,100 ZAR
Personnel Recruiter Human Resources 447,300 ZAR
Records Clerk Human Resources 159,100 ZAR
Records Manager Human Resources 259,100 ZAR
Recruiter Human Resources 430,000 ZAR
Recruiting Coordinator Human Resources 228,000 ZAR
Recruiting Manager Human Resources 578,500 ZAR
Recruitment Consultant Human Resources 433,800 ZAR
Recruitment Officer Human Resources 239,000 ZAR
Recruitment Supervisor Human Resources 366,200 ZAR
Research Associate Human Resources 194,600 ZAR
SAP Resource Manager Human Resources 457,300 ZAR
Talent Acquisition Manager Human Resources 553,800 ZAR
Talent Acquisition Specialist Human Resources 325,600 ZAR
Talent Management Officer Human Resources 263,200 ZAR
Technical Recruiter Human Resources 263,200 ZAR
Training Administrator Human Resources 251,500 ZAR
Training and Development Manager Human Resources 548,500 ZAR
Training and Development Section Head Human Resources 444,300 ZAR
Training Executive Human Resources 457,300 ZAR
Training Manager Human Resources 547,800 ZAR
Training Officer Human Resources 221,500 ZAR
Training Specialist Human Resources 341,900 ZAR

Salary Comparison by City

If you want to compare salaries with different cities in South Africa, you can use the links below to explore the data for each specific city we have researched.

City Average Salary
Bloemfontein 152,300 ZAR
Cape Town 180,500 ZAR
Durban 172,200 ZAR
Johannesburg 161,600 ZAR
Port Elizabeth 151,800 ZAR
Pretoria 159,100 ZAR

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