How much you will earn one day is becoming a big part of choosing what to study. This article will give you a breakdown of South African salaries and what different people earn in different industries.
With South Africa’s economic climate becoming more hostile every day, financial security is a big consideration when deciding which field you want to enter into. What you’ll earn one day depends on a lot of different things:  where you’ll work (location, location, location), which industry you’ll work in and what position in the industry you choose to fill.
Below is a summary of what you can expect to earn monthly, within different industries (these are averages based on research within a small pool of participants, South African salaries can differ significantly in different situations):
- Admin Clerk
-
- Intermediate
R10 000 – R13 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R11 000 – R14 000
- HR Officer
-
- Intermediate
R20 000 – R25 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R25 000 – R30 000
- Customer Support
-
- Intermediate
R12 000 – R15 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R13 000 – R18 000
- Call Centre Operator
-
- Intermediate
R10 000 – R12 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R12 000 – R19 000
- Secretary
-
- Intermediate
R14 000 – R18 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R20 000 – R25 000
- Management
-
- Intermediate
R20 000 – R30 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R25 000 – R35 000
- Beautician
-
- Intermediate
R5 000 – R8 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R6 000 – R12 000
- Quantity Surveying
-
- Intermediate
R25 000 – R37 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R30 000 – R50 000
- Foreman
-
- Intermediate
R15 000 – R25 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R33 000 – R42 000
- Construction Manager
-
- Intermediate
R30 000 – R60 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R54 000 – R63 000
- Financial Manager
-
- Intermediate
R40 000 – R50 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R5 000 – R63 000
- Project Manager
-
- Intermediate
R37 000 – R50 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R50 000 – R60 000
- Industrial Design
-
- Intermediate
R17 000 – R25 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R13 000 – R33 000
- Interior Design
-
- Intermediate
R30 000 – R60 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R18 000 – R25 000
- Graphic Design
-
- Intermediate
R16 000 – 20 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R21 000 – R30 000
- Web Design
-
- Intermediate
R18 000 – R22 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R24 000 – R34 000
- Photography
-
- Intermediate
R11 000 – R20 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R20 000 – R30 000
- Journalism
-
- Intermediate
R20 000 – R27 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R25 000 – R34 000
- Teacher
-
- Intermediate
R15 000 – R20 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R20 000 – R25 000
- Headmaster
-
- Intermediate
R28 000 – R41 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R41 000 – R53 000
- Architect
-
- Intermediate
R20 000 – R32 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R33 000 – R45 000
- Civil Engineer
-
- Intermediate
R30 000 – R46 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R48 000 – R63 000
- Chemical Engineer
-
- Intermediate
R25 000 – R40 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R40 000 – R58 000
- Electrical Engineer
-
- Intermediate
R33 000 – R44 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R40 000 – R53 000
- Electronic Engineer
-
- Intermediate
R25 000 – R40 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R40 000 – R54 000
- Industrial Engineer
-
- Intermediate
R40 000 – R48 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R43 000 – R53 000
- Mechanical Engineer
-
- Intermediate
R33 000 – R45 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R46 000 – R58 000
- Mining Engineer
-
- Intermediate
R35 000 – R50 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R50 000 – R80 000
- Engineering Technician
-
- Intermediate
R20 000 – R28 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R26 000 – R33 000
- Draftsman
-
- Intermediate
R19 000 – R26 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R20 000 – R27 000
- Bookkeeper
-
- Intermediate
R14 000 – R19 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R17 000 – R24 000
- Accountant
-
- Intermediate
R33 000 – R45 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R35 000 – R47 000
- Chartered Accountant
-
- Intermediate
R41 000 – R48 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R48 000 – R53 000
- Auditor
-
- Intermediate
R30 000 – R38 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R39 000 – R47 000
- Corporate Lending
-
- Intermediate
R42 000 – R60 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R50 000 – R75 000
- Credit Management
-
- Intermediate
R25 000 – R32 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R32 000 – R40 000
- Financial Analyst
-
- Intermediate
R43 000 – R52 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R45 000 – R52 000
- Risk Analyst
-
- Intermediate
R40 000 – R44 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R42 000 – R52 000
- Investment Manager
-
- Intermediate
R25 000 – R37 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R34 000 – R44 000
- Asset Manager
-
- Intermediate
R31 000 – R38 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R36 000 – R46 000
- Portfolio Manager
-
- Intermediate
R25 000 – R34 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R27 000 – R35 000
- Treasury Manager
-
- Intermediate
R35 000 – R40 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R45 000 – R48 000
- Actuary
-
- Intermediate
R28 000 – R37 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R40 000 – R50 000
- Claims Assessor
-
- Intermediate
R15 000 – R20 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R23 000 – R30 000
- Financial Services Consultant
-
- Intermediate
R11 000 – R22 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R20 000 – R25 000
- Software Developer
-
- Intermediate
R33 000 – R43 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R43 000 – R53 000
- Systems Analyst
-
- Intermediate
R32 000 – R42 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R43 000 – R52 000
- Database Developer
-
- Intermediate
R33 000 – R42 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R39 000 – R48 000
- System Administrator
-
- Intermediate
R21 000 – R27 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R29 000 – R39 000
- Data Analyst
-
- Intermediate
R33 000 – R44 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R39 000 – R47 000
- Advocate
-
- Intermediate
R35 000 – R66 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R66 000 – R80 000
- Attorney
-
- Intermediate
R20 000 – R30 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R30 000 – R50 000
- Legal Assistant
-
- Intermediate
R25 000 – R30 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R40 000 – R45 000
- Artisan
-
- Intermediate
R16 000 – R23 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R23 000 – R27 000
- Machinist
-
- Intermediate
R17 000 – R23 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R20 000 – R28 000
- Plant and Production Control
-
- Intermediate
R23 000 – R28 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R24 000 – R32 000
- Process Control
-
- Intermediate
R20 000 – R26 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R27 000 – R30 000
- Quality Control
-
- Intermediate
R17 000 – R23 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R21 000 – R28 000
- Brand Management
-
- Intermediate
R24 000 – R30 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R33 000 – R40 000
- Product Management
-
- Intermediate
R26 000 – R33 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R31 000 – R40 000
- Research and Analysis
-
- Intermediate
R25 000 – R34 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R29 000 – R39 000
- Advertising
-
- Intermediate
R17 000 – R25 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R25 000 – R34 000
- Communications and PR
-
- Intermediate
R22 000 – R26 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R30 000 – R41 000
- Representative and Sales Consulting
-
- Intermediate
R15 000 – R22 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R22 000 – R29 000
- Telesales and Telemarketing
-
- Intermediate
R12 000 – R18 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R23 000 – R30 000
- Registered Nurse
-
- Intermediate
R17 000 – R22 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R22 000 – R27 000
- Pharmacist
-
- Intermediate
R33 000 – R42 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R42 000 – R50 000
- General Practitioner
-
- Intermediate
R40 000 – R54 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R54 000 – R66 000
- Physician
-
- Intermediate
R45 000 – R70 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R70 000 – R100 000
- Chef
-
- Intermediate
R12 000 – R16 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R15 000 – R23 000
- Waiter
-
- Intermediate
R3 000 – R5 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R5 000 – R8 000
- Restaurant Manager
-
- Intermediate
R9 000 – R13 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R13 000 – R18 000
- Hotel Manager
-
- Intermediate
R14 000 – R23 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R23 000 – R67 000
- Laboratory Technician
-
- Intermediate
R13 000 – R16 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R16 000 – R20 000
- Laboratory Assistant
-
- Intermediate
R8 000 – R13 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R13 000 – R16 000
- Police Officer
-
- Intermediate
R13 000 – R18 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R18 000 – R24 000
- Security Guard
-
- Intermediate
R2 000 – R5 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R5 000 – R8 000
- Paramedic
-
- Intermediate
R12 000 – R20 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R20 000 – R30 000
- Warehouse Operations
-
- Intermediate
R11 000 – R13 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R15 000 – R20 000
- Dispatch and Receiving
-
- Intermediate
R11 000 – R14 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R54 000 – R63 000
- Freight
-
- Intermediate
R12 000 – R14 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R15 000 – R17 000
- Route Management
-
- Intermediate
R11 000 – R13 000
-
- SeniorÂ
R13 000 – R19 000
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So, What Will YOU Earn?
As you can see, the amount that you earn depends on what industry you’re working in, what job you’re performing and how senior you are within your company. Remember: what you study should not only be based on what you earn, but rather on what you enjoy and excel at. When choosing what to study, it is a good idea to choose what industry you wish to work in, what your aspirations are, where your passions lie and whether money is the deciding fact, and then consider the earning prospects of different careers within the industry.
Another thing to keep in mind is that entrepreneurship is on the rise. Many of these careers, when looked at in a freelancing or entrepreneurship context, will allow you the ability to earn more as you are your own boss and you have the ability to decide how much effort and work you wish to put in.
Hard work pays off after all.
EduConnect 2Cents
If you are trying to decide what to study or trying to choose between two fields, try and find someone to job shadow to find out what it’s like to work within a specific industry.  EduConnect has loads of advice on choosing what to study, where to study and deciding what career path suits you best.
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