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 | R144 024 | R169 656 | R12 002 | PSA |
| Level 3 | R170 226 | R200 523 | R14 186 | PSA |
| Level 4 | R201 093 | R236 877 | R16 758 | PSA |
| Level 5 | R237 453 | R279 708 | R19 788 | PSA |
| Level 6 | R280 278 | R330 162 | R23 357 | PSA |
| Level 7 | R338 106 | R398 277 | R28 176 | PSA |
| Level 8 | R413 001 | R486 501 | R34 417 | PSA |
| Level 9 | R487 197 | R573 897 | R40 600 | PSA |
| Level 10 | R605 742 | R713 535 | R50 479 | PSA |
| Level 11 | R932 292 | R1 098 195 | R77 691 | PSA |
| Level 12 | R1 101 468 | R1 297 476 | R91 789 | PSA |
| Level 13 | R1 317 384 | R1 551 807 | R109 782 | SMS |
| Level 14 | R1 554 696 | R1 858 821 | R129 558 | SMS |
| Level 15 | R1 885 710 | R2 124 237 | R157 143 | SMS |
| Level 16 | R2 446 749 | R2 756 241 | R203 896 | 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 2026-10-21. Notch values are approximate; consult your department's PERSAL system or DPSA Appendix A-E for exact figures. Sources cited inline above.