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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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