The average general manager salary in South Africa is R33,700.00 per month. General managers are in positions of business leadership and oversee their teams’ performances and activities. A General Manager’s job necessitates management abilities and accountability for team performance.
General Managers are some of the most hardworking people in any organization, and bonuses are usually a part of their pay. A General Manager’s bonus ranges from R7,000.00 to R234,000.00 per year (Payscale).
General Managers are entitled to bonuses primarily because they lead departments and teams; however, 15% of General Managers in South Africa do not receive a bonus. The annual bonus for the 85% of General Managers who receive bonuses ranges between 5% and 9% of their annual salary.
General managers can also earn commissions. General Managers receive annual bonuses ranging from R5,000.00 to R242,000.00, according to Payscale. A General Manager’s bonus and commissions can account for up to 18% of his or her total annual salary.
Despite the fact that General Managers earn well, there is a pay gap based on gender in the field. According to Salary Explorer, male general managers earn 11% more than female general managers. This is something to consider especially for females that want to become a general manager.
A General Manager’s salary is influenced by several factors. These aspects are discussed further below.
Factors that influence the salary of a General Manager
Education
One can be a General Manager with only a high school certificate, so there are no minimum educational requirements. General Managers with a high school certificate earn the least in South Africa, earning R35,400.00 per month on average.
General Managers with a national diploma earn more than those with a high school certificate, with an average monthly salary of R41,600.00. A General Manager with a national diploma earns 18% more than a General Manager with a high school certificate.
Those with a bachelor’s degree earn an even higher monthly average salary of R60,300.00. A General Manager with a Bachelor’s degree earns 45% more than a General Manager with a national diploma.
General managers with a master’s degree earn the highest salaries in South Africa, with an average monthly salary of R79,000.00. Master’s degree general managers earn 31% more than bachelor’s degree general managers.
Employer
A General Manager’s salary is also affected by their employer. A General Manager’s salary in a company can be set by the employer. They can also dictate the benefits and contributions that General Managers receive.
City of Employment
A city where a general manager is employed plays a role in his/her monthly salary. Here are the highest-paying cities for a General Manager in South Africa.
| # | City | Average Monthly Salary |
| 1 | East London, Eastern Cape | R65,406.00 |
| 2 | Johannesburg South, Gauteng | R63,046.00 |
| 3 | Johannesburg, Gauteng | R57,057.00 |
| 4 | Randburg, Gauteng | R55,593.00 |
| 5 | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal | R41,359.00 |
| 6 | Sandton, Gauteng | R38,451.00 |
| 7 | Cape Town, Western Cape | R31,662.00 |
Another factor that influences a general manager’s salary is their level of experience. Below, we examine how a General Manager’s salary is influenced by their salary.
Salary of a General Manager based on their level of experience
Salary of a General Manager with 0 – 2 years of work experience in 2024
A General Manager with 0 to 2 years of experience can expect to earn R28,800.00 per month on average. A General Manager with 0 years of experience earns R25,400.00 per month which is the lowest salary in this category.
General managers with 2 years of experience earn the highest salaries in this category, with an average monthly salary of R32,000.00.
Salary of a General Manager with 3 – 5 years of work experience in 2024
A General Manager with 3 to 5 years of experience can expect to earn R38,500.00 per month on average. The salary is 34% higher than the average salary for General Managers with 0 to 2 years of experience.
General managers with 5 years of experience earn the highest salaries in this category, with an average monthly salary of R44,900.00. General managers with 3 years of experience earn the least in this category, with an average salary of R35,700.00 per month.
Salary of a General Manager with 6 – 10 years of work experience in 2024
A General Manager with 6 to 10 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R56,900.00. The salary represents a 48% increase over the average salary of General managers with 3 to 5 years of experience.
General Managers with 10 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R61,400.00. General managers with 6 years of experience earn the least in this category, with an average salary of R48,700.00 per month.
Salary of a General Manager with 11 – 15 years of work experience in 2024
A General Manager with 11 to 15 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R69,400.00. This represents a 22% raise over the average monthly salary of General Managers with 6 to 10 years of experience.
General managers with 15 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R70,000.00. Those with 11 years of work experience earn the least, with an average monthly salary of R66,500.00.
Salary of a General Manager with 16 – 20 years of work experience in 2024
A General Manager with 16 to 20 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R75,600.00. This represents a 9% increase in the average salaries of General Managers with 11 to 15 years of experience.
General Managers with 20+ years of experience earn the most, with an average monthly salary of R81,800.00. A General Manager’s monthly salary can reach R150,000.00 for those with a master’s degree.
Conclusion
A General Manager’s salary is one of the highest in South Africa and grows at a much faster rate than that of other professionals. Staying in the field for an extended period of time can be very financially rewarding.
