The average waiter/waitress salary in South Africa in 2024 is R6,402.00 per month. Since a Waiter/Waitress’s salary is so low, it can be supplemented by commissions. Waiters/Waitresses receive yearly commissions of up to R49,000.00.
Performance bonuses are also available for Waiters/Waitresses but this depends largely on the employer. Waiters/Waitresses earn a yearly bonus of R20.00 to R6,000.00.
Waiters and waitresses in South Africa do not receive any particular workplace benefits. Waiters/waitresses in South Africa do not receive employment benefits such as retirement annuities, medical aid, and so on.
The company for which a Waiter/Waitress works has a significant impact on their income. Here are some of the companies in South Africa with the highest average salary for Waiters/Waitresses:
- Marble Restaurant – R9,751.00 average monthly salary;
- Seasons – R9,500.00 average monthly salary;
- Highfield House – R8,899.00 average monthly salary;
- In-store – R8,394.00 average monthly salary;
- Fishmonger – R8,344.00 average monthly salary;
- Spur Restaurant – R8,067.00 average monthly salary; and
- HSC – R7,987.00 average monthly salary.
Waiters and waitresses’ salaries are also affected by the city in which they work. Cities that are more developed tend to pay higher wages than cities in the peri-urban area. The table below shows the cities in South Africa with the highest average salary for Waiters/Waitresses.
| # | City | Average Monthly Salary |
| 1 | Johannesburg, Gauteng | R6,438.00 |
| 2 | Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal | R4,907.00 |
| 3 | Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape | R4,704.00 |
| 4 | Stellenbosch, Western Cape | R4,442.00 |
| 5 | Pretoria, Gauteng | R4,378.00 |
| 6 | Centurion, Gauteng | R4,146.00 |
| 7 | East London, Eastern Cape | R4,129.00 |
| 8 | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal | R3,375.00 |
The salary of a Waiter/Waitress is also influenced by the level of experience in the field. We look at the salary of a Waiter/Waitress depending on the level of experience that they possess below.
Salaries of a Waiter/Waitress based on their level of experience in 2024
Average Waiter/Waitress salary with 0 – 2 years of work experience in 2024
A Waiter/Waitress with 0 to 2 years of experience earns R5,170.00 per month on average. The lowest monthly wage available in this category is R3,000.00. Waiters/Waitresses with 0 years of experience earn this salary.
The highest salary that can be earned in this category is R6,350.00 per month. This salary is earned by Waiters/Waitresses with 2 years of working experience.
Average Waiter/Waitress salary with 3 – 5 years of work experience in 2024
A Waiter/Waitress with 3 to 5 years of experience earns R6,900.00 per month on average. The salary offers a 34% raise above the average salary for Waiters/Waitresses with 0 to 2 years of experience.
Waiters and waitresses with 5 years of experience earn the highest average salary in this group. A Waiter/Waitress with 5 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R7,300.00.
Waiters/Waitresses with 3 years of experience earn the lowest income in this category of R6,500.00 per month. Waiters/waitresses working at smaller restaurants may earn much less.
Average Waiter/Waitress salary with 6 – 10 years of work experience in 2024
A Waiter/Waitress with 6 to 10 years of experience earns R10,200.00 per month on average. The salary offers a 48% raise above the average salary for Waiters/Waitresses with 3 to 5 years of experience.
Tips can be a game changer for Waiters/Waitresses in this category, increasing average pay by more than 50%. Waiters/waitresses in affluent areas are the highest paid in this category.
Waiters/Waitresses with 10 years of experience are the highest paid in this experience range. Waiters/waitresses with 10 years of experience earn an average monthly salary of R11,500.00.
Average Waiter/Waitress salary with 11 – 15 years of work experience in 2024
A Waiter/Waitress with 11 to 15 years of experience can expect to earn R12,400.00 per month on average. The salary is a 22% increase above the average salary of Waiters/Waitresses with 6 to 10 years of experience.
Waiters and waitresses with 15 years of experience earn the highest salary in this group. A Waiter/Waitress with 15 years of experience can expect to earn R13,600.00 per month on average.
Waiters/Waitresses with 11 years of experience earn the lowest salary in this category, with an average monthly salary of R12,500.00. Tips can raise a Waiter/Waitress’s gross income by up to 40% with 11 to 15 years of service.
Average Waiter\Waitress salary with 16 – 20 years of work experience 2024
A Waiter/Waitress with 16 to 20 years of experience earns R13,600.00 per month on average. The salary is 9% higher than the average salary for Waiters/Waitresses with 11 to 15 years of experience.
Those with 20 or more years of experience do not see significant salary increases. A Waiter/Waitress can earn up to R14,700.00 per month, with commissions of up to R49,000.00 per year.
Conclusion
The salary of a Waiter/Waitress is not as high when compared to those with professional jobs. The salary of a waiter tends to increase between year 4 and year 12, increasing by over 5% year to year during this period. Working in an affluent joint can help in getting higher commissions and salaries.