A new ranking by LiveGDP shows that Djibouti has the highest average monthly net salary in Africa in 2026 at $2,836, followed by South Africa at $1,270 and Seychelles at $790.
The report, which compares 54 African countries based on estimated monthly average net salaries after taxes and mandatory deductions, places Nigeria 36th out of 54 countries, with an average monthly net salary of $140.
Figures are expressed in US dollars to provide a common basis for comparing salaries across the continent, according to the data published by LiveGDP.
Top 10 African Countries with the Highest Salaries in 2026
Djibouti ranks first with an estimated average monthly net salary of $2,836, making it the highest-paying country in Africa. Its figure is $1,566 higher than second-placed South Africa and more than 40 times the $70 recorded for South Sudan, the lowest-ranked country.
South Africa takes second place with an average monthly net salary of $1,270, the only other African country in the ranking with an average take-home salary above $1,000.
The island nation of Seychelles ranks third, with workers earning an estimated $790 per month after taxes and mandatory deductions. Botswana is fourth with an average monthly net salary of $780, a difference of only $10 from Seychelles.
Other Countries in the Top 10
Namibia occupies fifth position with an average monthly take-home salary of $630, one of six African countries where the estimated average net salary exceeds $600. Mauritius ranks sixth with an average monthly net salary of $615, narrowly staying ahead of Morocco, which recorded $490.
Morocco is the highest-ranked North African country, with an estimated average monthly net salary of $490, ranking above Tunisia, Libya, Algeria and Egypt in the broader African salary table.
Equatorial Guinea takes eighth position with an average monthly net salary of $380, the highest-ranked Central African nation in the top 10. Cameroon ranks ninth, with workers earning an estimated $345 per month after taxes and mandatory deductions, while Kenya completes the top 10 with an average monthly net salary of $344, just $1 below Cameroon.
Nigeria's Position and Regional Disparities
For Nigerian workers, the ranking places the country considerably lower than the continent's top-paying destinations. Nigeria ranks 36th out of 54 African countries, with an estimated average monthly net salary of $140, the same figure as Benin and Guinea, according to the LiveGDP data.
The ranking also shows the wide disparity in salary levels across Africa. LiveGDP reported that 35 of the 54 African countries have average monthly net salaries below $200.
However, salary alone does not determine where workers enjoy the best financial conditions. LiveGDP noted that differences in living costs, inflation, exchange rates, purchasing power, working hours, employment benefits and public services should also be considered when comparing countries.
Therefore, the list should be viewed primarily as a comparison of nominal monthly take-home pay, rather than a definitive ranking of the best places to live and work in Africa.
