Public Servant Salary South Africa 2026: All Levels
Approximate 2026/2027 financial-year salary ranges for every Public Service salary level (1-16), reflecting the 4% cost-of-living increase effective 1 April 2026. Click any level for typical roles, notch progression rules, and notes.
Salary table
All figures are approximate; exact notches come from your department's PERSAL system or the DPSA Appendix A-E salary scales. Levels 13-16 are Senior Management Service (SMS) Total Cost to Employer (TCE) packages.
| Level | Annual (min) | Annual (max) | Monthly (min) | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | R137 448 | R161 988 | R11 454 | PSA |
| Level 2 | R156 492 | R184 524 | R13 041 | PSA |
| Level 3 | R181 476 | R213 888 | R15 123 | PSA |
| Level 4 | R230 736 | R271 896 | R19 228 | PSA |
| Level 5 | R280 032 | R330 240 | R23 336 | PSA |
| Level 6 | R337 956 | R398 172 | R28 163 | PSA |
| Level 7 | R397 044 | R467 796 | R33 087 | PSA |
| Level 8 | R470 088 | R553 944 | R39 174 | PSA |
| Level 9 | R567 336 | R668 460 | R47 278 | PSA |
| Level 10 | R689 796 | R812 532 | R57 483 | PSA |
| Level 11 | R813 924 | R959 004 | R67 827 | PSA |
| Level 12 | R970 656 | R1 143 588 | R80 888 | PSA |
| Level 13 | R1 216 824 | R1 433 355 | R101 402 | SMS |
| Level 14 | R1 436 022 | R1 716 933 | R119 669 | SMS |
| Level 15 | R1 741 770 | R1 962 090 | R145 148 | SMS |
| Level 16 | R2 259 984 | R2 500 000 | R188 332 | SMS |
How DPSA salary levels work
Public Servant salaries in South Africa are set by salary level (1-16) and notch (annual increment within that level), not by individual negotiation. The structure is uniform across all national and provincial departments under the Public Service Act, 1994.
- Notch progression - employees advance one notch each year of satisfactory performance, up to the maximum notch for their level. This is called "pay progression".
- Cost-of-living adjustments - applied to ALL notches at all levels, typically with effect from 1 April each year. The 2026/27 increase is 4%.
- Levels 1-12 are governed by the PSCBC Resolution 1 of 2025 collective bargaining outcome.
- Levels 13-16 are the Senior Management Service (SMS) and are governed by a separate annual determination by the Minister for the Public Service and Administration.
- OSDs (Occupation Specific Dispensations) - some occupations like nurses, doctors, social workers, legal employees, engineers, and therapists have their own specialised salary scales that follow the level structure but with different notch values. The 2026 4% increase applies to OSDs too.
- Sectoral exclusions - SAPS, SANDF, Educators (under the Educators Act), Correctional Services and NPA staff are NOT covered by the same PSCBC determination. Each has its own sectoral wage agreement.
How to find your exact notch
- Log into PERSAL (Personnel Salary System) via your department's HR portal.
- Your payslip lists your salary level and notch number.
- For the official notch values, request a copy of the DPSA salary scale Appendix A-E for the relevant financial year from your HR department.
- If you are SMS (Level 13+), your remuneration is a TCE package - the published level range is the cost to the employer, not your take-home.
Related
- All SA salary pages
- Income tax calculator - take-home pay after PAYE
- SARS guides - tax obligations as a public servant
Figures verified against DPSA Circular 7 of 2025 and Minister Buthelezi's April 2026 announcement on 2026-05-14. Notch values are approximate; consult your department's PERSAL system or DPSA Appendix A-E for exact figures. Sources cited inline above.