REVEALED: Cashier salaries at major supermarkets

Data published this year has brought to light the average salary cashiers get at some of the country’s largest supermarkets, BusinessTech reported on 1 December 2024.

With this sector now one of the biggest in South Africa, this has of course led to an increase in the need for cashiers at supermarkets around the country. Despite the way people now do shopping, which is mostly online, there’s still a need for cashiers.

They unfortunately have to work long sometimes irregular hours catering to shoppers everyday. But are they fairly remunerated for the hours they put in?

CASHIERS’ SALARIES – WHAT THE LAW SAYS

Most of the supermarkets pay cashiers what is legally required. The wholesale and retail sectors account for 17% of the SA workforce, making it the second-largest employer after government.

The Department of Employment and Labour outlined the minimum wages for the year in this sector in early 2024. This saw the minimum wage going from R25.42 to R27.58 per hour. However, cashiers are entitled to a higher rate, with the location being a determining factor.

So cashiers can earn between R27.58 and R39.49 per hour. This means they can make between R5 377.69 and R5 948.99 per month, or from R64 532 and R71 387 annually. Leading retailers however, exceed these legal requirements as they set their own internal minimum wages.

SO HOW MUCH DO CASHIERS MAKE AT LEADING SUPERMARKETS?

An analysis was done by Just Share that is based on data disclosed by numerous JSE-listed wholesale and retail companies. Just Share said it “shows extremely large pay gaps and poor leadership diversity in JSE-listed wholesale and retail sector.”

Kwanele Ngogela, Senior Inequality Analyst at Just Share says: “While the sector undoubtedly plays an important role in providing employment to low- and semi-skilled workers, it is nevertheless crucial to also recognise the contribution of the extreme vertical wage gaps which characterise these companies to the country’s overall high levels of inequality.”

So here’s how much cashiers make at Woolworths, Shoprite, Spar and Pick n Pay, according to each supermarket’s internal minimum wage.

• Woolworths – R93 600 per annum
• Shoprite – R65 263 per annum
• Pick n Pay – R64 537 per annum
• Spar – R59 483 per annum

Woolworths’ internal minimum wage is the highest, paying 18% more among other competitors and 54% above the national minimum wage. Their offering is part of their “just wage” initiative that they say has positively helped the lives of more than 24 000 of its employees.

THERE IS STILL INEQUALITY IN SALARIES

There is still inequality in salaries when it comes to roles in these supermarkets. According to the data, CEOs in the sector get paid 597 times more than the lowest-paid employees. This is a huge gap that has been highlighted by the analysis.