"Are You Behind?": Gent Discusses What South Africans Actually Earn Each Month At Different Ages
- A Johannesburg financial adviser shared median monthly salary figures broken down by age group using Stats SA data
- The figures revealed a stark picture of earnings across South Africa, with some age groups earning far less than many expected
- South Africans flooded the comments to share their own salaries and reactions to how they compare with their peers
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: TikTok
A Johannesburg financial adviser sparked a heated conversation online after sharing what South Africans in different age groups actually take home each month.
Julian Cruz, who runs the TikTok account @julsfin.za with over 8,600 followers, posted the clip on 23 September 2026. Using median salary figures from Stats SA, he broke down monthly earnings by age bracket and invited his followers to share their own income in the comments.
What the Stats SA numbers say
According to the data Cruz shared, those aged 55 to 64 earn a median of R7,367 per month, while the 45 to 54 bracket sits at R6,933. Workers aged 35 to 44 take home a median of R6,500, those between 25 and 34 earn R5,600, and the youngest group, aged 15 to 24, earns a median of R4,500 monthly.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Cruz was careful to note that median figures resist distortion by top earners, unlike averages. That distinction matters enormously in South Africa, where more than half of all working people earn below R15,000 a month regardless of age.
The broader context explains why. South Africa's official unemployment rate stands at 33.6%, climbing to 43.8% when discouraged work-seekers are included. Those who do find work are often in the informal sector, where income is irregular and well below national benchmarks. Education, industry, geography and gender all widen the gap further. Within the 25 to 44 age group alone, people with a tertiary qualification command nearly half of the generation's total income, despite making up less than 17% of it.
Mzansi reacts to the salary breakdown
The post drew over 500 comments, with many South Africans sharing what they earn and debating whether the numbers felt real on the TikTok page:
@mrmacallen12 wrote:
"No ways! With so many expensive cars out here, people earn waaaaaay more than that."
@Andrew Gomes said:
"The comments just show us the state of education in the country. The fact that virtually nobody can understand what a median value is…"
@Metjarazo simply wrote:
"This is sad."
@Melville asked:
"How can your median salary be less than minimum wage?"
@Big_Dawg said:
"I feel guilty and ungrateful. I'm in the age 35 group and can't even begin to imagine such a salary. It's not even half my PAYE. We need to fix this country."
@Kgosi added:
"This list makes no sense in a country with high inequality. Can you adjust it for university-educated individuals only?"
@NashWells revealed:
"Age 23, take-home salary R54,000."
@Seni wrote:
"My peers are getting paid less than what I'm paying for this car. I'm beyond grateful."
@Gal_OKAY reminded viewers:
"Guys, remember median doesn't mean average. Median means the salary most people earn, not all salaries divided by the number of earners."
See the full clip below:
More on salaries in South Africa
- Briefly News recently reported on former Ukhozi FM host Sbu Buthelezi, who disclosed his monthly salary despite hosting a show with 3.6 million listeners.
- A Zimbabwean university lecturer's payslip went viral, with a take-home pay that left Mzansi stunned once tax and deductions were factored in.
- An alleged salary figure for actor Sdumo Mtshali on Netflix's The Polygamist left South Africans shaking their heads.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
