Public Servant Salary Level 1 (2026)
Verified 2026-05-14. Public Service Act (PSA) appointee - covered by the 1-12 PSCBC determination.
Entry-level positions in the Public Service. Manual / support roles without formal qualification requirements beyond literacy.
Typical roles at Level 1
- General Worker (cleaner, gardener, laundry attendant)
- Driver / Messenger (Public Service Act, not OSD-covered)
- Food Service Aid
- Security Officer at the lowest grade
Real examples
- A cleaner at a government hospital
- A driver for a provincial department
- A grounds-maintenance worker at a school (where school is Public Service-appointed, not Educator-appointed)
How the salary is structured
Public Service Act (PSA) salaries are basic salary scales. Pensionable from day one. Additional benefits (medical aid contribution, housing allowance, transport allowance) are paid in addition to the basic salary depending on your department's policy and your conditions of service.
Notch progression
Within Level 1, you progress one notch per year of satisfactory performance ("pay progression"). The notches are roughly evenly-spaced steps between the minimum (R137 448) and maximum (R161 988) annual values. After reaching the maximum, further increases come only from the annual cost-of-living adjustment or promotion to Level 2.
Exact notch figures come from PERSAL (your payslip) or the DPSA salary-scale Appendices issued each financial year by the Department of Public Service and Administration.
The 2026 cost-of-living adjustment
All Level 1 notches are adjusted by 4% with effect from 1 April 2026. The increase is pensionable and is implemented programmatically by PERSAL on the effective date. Source: DPSA.
What is excluded
The Public Service salary structure does NOT apply to:
- Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS Act, 1995) - separate sectoral wage
- South African National Defence Force (SA Defence Act, 2002) - separate
- Educators employed under the Educators Act, 1998 - separate ELRC determination
- Correctional Services personnel - separate
- National Prosecuting Authority personnel - separate
- SETA and entity-employed staff (governed by their own remuneration policies)
All Public Service salary levels
| Level | Annual (min) | Monthly (min) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (this page) | R137 448 | R11 454 |
| Level 2 | R156 492 | R13 041 |
| Level 3 | R181 476 | R15 123 |
| Level 4 | R230 736 | R19 228 |
| Level 5 | R280 032 | R23 336 |
| Level 6 | R337 956 | R28 163 |
| Level 7 | R397 044 | R33 087 |
| Level 8 | R470 088 | R39 174 |
| Level 9 | R567 336 | R47 278 |
| Level 10 | R689 796 | R57 483 |
| Level 11 | R813 924 | R67 827 |
| Level 12 | R970 656 | R80 888 |
| Level 13 | R1 216 824 | R101 402 |
| Level 14 | R1 436 022 | R119 669 |
| Level 15 | R1 741 770 | R145 148 |
| Level 16 | R2 259 984 | R188 332 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the salary for Public Service Level 1 in 2026?
What roles are typically at Level 1?
Does the 4% 2026 increase apply to Level 1?
How does notch progression work at Level 1?
Related
- Public Servant salary hub - all 16 levels in one table
- SA salary pages (police, soldier, nurse, etc.)
- Income tax calculator - what you take home after PAYE
Figures are approximate, derived from DPSA Circular 7 of 2025 (5.5% from 1 April 2025) plus Minister Buthelezi's 24 April 2026 announcement of 4% effective 1 April 2026, applied to 2024/25 baselines. Exact notch values come from your department's PERSAL system or DPSA Appendix A-E. Not affiliated with the Department of Public Service and Administration. Last verified 2026-05-14.