“How Does Your Salary Compare?” Gent Breaks Down Median Monthly Earnings by Race Group
- A Johannesburg content creator shared South Africa's median monthly salary figures broken down by race group, and the numbers stopped many viewers cold
- The figures showed Black African earners at the lowest median while white earners sat at the top, a gap that drew sharp and divided responses
- South Africans flooded the comments with personal salary stories, questions about the data, and strong opinions about what the numbers really mean
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Source: TikTok
A Johannesburg content creator sparked a heated conversation online after sharing South Africa's median monthly salary figures, broken down by race group. Julian Cruz, who posts under @julsfin.za, shared the clip from his home on 29 September 2026, and it quickly drew hundreds of comments.
In the video, Cruz walked viewers through the figures, asking:
"So, how does your salary compare?"
He revealed that the median monthly earnings for Black and African workers sit at R5,200, while Coloured workers earn a median of R6,067. Indian and Asian workers come in at R15,000 per month, and white workers top the list at R25,000.
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What the research says
The salary gap Cruz described is backed by academic research. A study from the University of Cape Town using Labour Market Dynamics South Africa data found that white earners take home roughly 23% more than Black earners. The research also found that women across all racial groups consistently earn less than their male counterparts, placing Black women at the bottom of the earnings ladder and white men at the top.
The UCT researchers pointed to education as the most significant driver of the disparity, noting that the quality and level of schooling available to different race groups remains unequal, a direct legacy of apartheid.
Watch the video that sparked the debate below:
Mzansi reacts to the numbers
The clip on the young man's TikTok page drew over 200 comments, with many South Africans sharing their own pay experiences:
@Lafika said:
"A few years ago I joined a company. The guy that I replaced was a white guy; he worked there only for a year, and it was his first job. He was earning R23k. On my side, it was my second job. I had the same qualifications as him; I had more experience than him, and my salary was R13.5k."
@Tristan said:
"Bro is turning the country against each other💀"
@Bernardus Dreyer said:
"Yeah, I'm not that kinda white, I guess, LOL."
@☠︎ Wʜɪᴛᴇ Rᴏꜱᴇ ☠︎ said:
"I just realised I'm black."
@prof said:
"I'm in coloured and making 75K gross and another 22K a month from my vehicles. I honestly didn't think that the salaries in this video still existed."
@BrandonGovender said:
"Yeah, but remember the population is varied by race as well. Black being the highest and whites being the lowest. So does it really show significance?"
@Stephan said:
"Where do you get your statistics..."
More on South African salaries
- Briefly News recently reported on the tax burden facing South Africans earning R30,000 a month, with a comparison sparking strong reactions.
- A South African teacher living in Canada broke down what educators can earn abroad, with her explanation prompting questions about relocating.
- SARS has been given the power to freeze and direct funds from third-party bank accounts following a High Court ruling.
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Source: Briefly News
