Jobs in KwaZulu-Natal

According to the South African Business website, KZN’s infrastructure, soil composition, and excellent weather facilitate a nicely varied economy. This consists of heavy and light manufacturing, agro-processing and mineral beneficiation (supported by the ports at Richards Bay and Durban), an active highway (the N3) and modern international airport, and pipelines that carry liquids of all varieties to and from SA’s economic powerhouse of Johannesburg. Other notable industrial initiatives, include: Sappi’s mill at Umkomaas that produces clothing and textiles, and Mondi’s forestry, paper, and packaging endeavours; Toyota and Bell equipment’s contribution to the automotive sector; and the banana, other subtropical fruit, and macadamia farming on the go within the fertile South Coast.

Working on Durban salaries, as that is probably where someone from outside of KZN would relocate to first, the average salary that can be earned in R300k per annum or R154 per hour (R25k on a monthly basis). However, it is important to note that the average entry-level position begins at R180k per annum, and that experienced professionals can make up to R1 006 056 on an annual basis.

You can probably expect to find work on most descriptions at the likes of:

• value retailer, Mr Price Group (average salary of R259 630 per annum);
  • iGaming company, Derivco (Pty) Ltd (average salary of R471 699 per annum);
  • Nedbank (average salary of R342 102 per annum);
• the eThekwini Municipality (average salary of R289 712 per annum);
  • the Department of Education (average salary of R278 013 per annum);
  • the KZN Department of Health (average salary of R325 000 per annum);
• consumer goods company, Unilever (average salary of R558 885 per annum);
  • Netcare (average salary of R275 228 per annum);
• Representative Council of Learners (RCL) (average salary of R420 000 per annum);
  • brand marketing company Hirt & Carter (average salary of R251 389 per annum);
  • Durban University of Technology (average salary of R246 722 per annum);
• digital group facilitators, the Ignition Group (average salary of R181 888 per annum);
• Standard Bank (average salary of R437 142 per annum);
• Sappi Ltd (average salary of R355 500 per annum);
• Ampath (average salary of R248 870 per annum);
  • marine cargo handing company, Grindrod (average salary of R292 000 per annum);
  • Absa (average salary of R559 757 per annum);
  • First Group (average salary of R244 850 per annum);
• Illovo Sugar (average salary of R480 343 per annum);
• Transnet (average salary of R334 777 per annum);
  • Defy (average salary of R437 210 per annum);
  • the University of KZN (average salary of R302 725 per annum);
  • SPAR Distribution Centre (average salary of R266 917 per annum);
• Lancet Laboratories (average salary of R188 666 per annum);
  • Momentum (average salary of R271 289 per annum);
  • Massmart (average salary of R266 000 per annum);
• FNB (average salary of R433 561 per annum);
  • Momentum Group (average salary of R386 524 per annum);
• engineering firm, Naidu Consulting (average salary of R298 000 per annum);
• Woolworths (average salary of R210 000 per annum).

A glance at reputable job portals, such as Executive Placements, shows up the following as sectors that are currently looking at expanding their staff numbers:

• farming jobs, such as an assistant operations manager – agriculture, in Howick;
• medical jobs, such as a nurse manager, in Durban;
• IT jobs, such as an IT field technician, in Pietermaritzburg;
• manufacturing jobs, such as a general manager: sales and operations masterbatch and polymer additives, province wide;
• sales and marketing jobs, such as a sales manager for automotive products, Durban;
• engineering jobs, such as a draughtsman for an electrical engineering firm, Durban.

Lonely Planet offers up seven reasons to visit, or indeed relocate to, the province of KZN:

• It has numerous fascinating rock-art sites to explore;
  • There are battlefields that the history buffs will adore;
  • You can gain insight into the Zulu culture, and its heritage;
• The beaches are simply exceptional – no matter whether surfing or sunbathing solitude is your thing;
• Durban is a cosmopolitan destination, as a result of its promenade, revamped waterfront, and adrenaline-fuelled activities and mouth-watering Asian-inspired cuisine;
  • There is epic mountainous landscape, in the form of the Drakensberg (as just one example, to explore – think “tumbling waterfalls, bubbling rivers, flat-topped ridges, dramatic peaks, wide valleys, and steep escarpments for adventurous and very fit legs;
  and
  • move over, Big Five, because KZN offers the big seven to its visitors and residents, i.e. elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo sightings – together with the southern right whale, and great white shark. You just can’t beat the overall experience!

The website Disability Connect has these notable facts to share about KZN:

• It is home to the world’s oldest and largest marathon – the Comrades. It kicked off in 1921, as a tribute to South African soldiers who died in World War I; and had a cap of 23 000 runners in 2024, of which 18 884 started the race and 17 313 managed to finish it;
• It features SA’s highest mountain range, the Drakensberg, which stands at 3 500m above sea level and features between 35 000 and 40 000 indigenous San rock paintings;
• It plays host to Africa’s greatest horse-racing event and fashion spectacle combined, the Durban July, which takes place at Greyville Racecourse each year. The 2024 Durban July winner was Oriental Charm.

• local  television/radio journalist and war correspondent, Lara Logan;
  • cricketer, Keshav Maharaj;
• former president, Jacob Zuma;
• competitive swimmer, and Olympic, World, and Commonwealth Games champion Chad le Clos;
• professional golfer, Rory Sabbatini;
• Victoria's Secret Angel, model, and philanthropist Candice Swanepoel.

While this very much varies according to the region you choose to settle in,

Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal advises that in general the province offers an idyllic pace of life – ‘with a sub-tropical climate and exceptional year-round weather’.

Location wise, KZN is lapped by the warm Indian Ocean in the east and protected by the Drakensberg escarpment in the west  – and stretches southwards to Port Edward and north to the borders of Mozambique, Swaziland, and the Mpumalanga province. Inland borders include Lesotho, and the Free State province.

While the promotion of extensive new infrastructural projects and special development zones continue to add to the province’s interest from a business perspective, its winter sunshine average of seven hours per day and summer highs of easily 32 to 35°C, make it a top destination for beach-goers and outdoors enthusiasts. KZN truly has what Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal refers to as an “ever-popular live-work-play investment location”.

Read more about KZN’s special economic development zones – two existing ones and two new ones in progress – here.

Just like the rest of South Africa, which is a highly fitness-orientated nation, KZN has many running clubs to join. Simply enter your region and see which one is the closest to where you plan on settling, via the Runners Guide website.

Mountain biking is another extremely popular sport for the young, and not so young, professional crowd – with a list of 15 top trails in the province rated and reviewed on TopMTBTrails.

Alternatively join a neighbourhood gym, fitness centre, or country club; or glance at the

TripAdvisor list of gold courses that await your tee off.

According to Property24, the average price for a 3-bedroom family home in KZN is a highly affordable R1.5 million. However, experts such as Private Property, SAHometraders, and Jazmax Estate Agents (among others), advise that prime coastal areas (such as Durban North, Umhlanga, and Ballito), and popular suburbs (i.e. Reservoir Hills, Newlands West, and Westville) have much higher price tags as a result of their desirability, views, pools, and kitchen/bathroom finishes.

If estate living is what you’re after, expect to pay between R5 and R8 million for a three-bedroom place – generally due to the security on offer, clubhouse and other lifestyle facilities, and the fact that it is generally safe for your kids to play in the street with the neighbours (the speed limit is about 10km per hour).

For interest, James Edition displays a few of the luxury homes for sales in the province – where prices range up to R115 000 000, for example for a palatial masterpiece in Umhlanga, boasting meticulous craftsmanship, Versace charm, and the kind of timeless elegance that will see you happily entertaining friends and colleagues on a nightly basis.