▼27%
R345,889
Avg. Base Salary (ZAR)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (ZAR)
10%
ZAR 117k
MEDIAN
ZAR 346k
90%
ZAR 927k
The average salary for an Economist is R345,889 in 2025
Base Salary
R117k - R927k
Bonus
R5k - R240k
Profit Sharing
R6k - R51k
Commission
R0 - R51k
Total Pay
R133k - R1m
Is Average Economist Salary in South Africa your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Economists?
What Do Economists Do?
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Economist
Medical
49%
Dental
10%
Vision
8%
None
51%
Gender Breakdown for Economists
Male
70.7%
Female
29.3%
This data is based on 41 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Economists
What is the highest pay for Economists?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for an Economist is ZAR 927k / year
What is the lowest pay for Economists?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for an Economist is ZAR 117k / year
How can Economists increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as an Economist is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are an Economist that oversees more junior Economists, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.